By Staff Writer

The City of Sydney and City of Melbourne have both received the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) President’s Award for leadership in planning.

Presented at the 2009 PIA Annual Congress in Darwin, the award recognises the role both councils have played in advancing national agendas for sustainability, transport planning and social infrastructure through the Sustainable Sydney 2030 strategy and the Future Melbourne Community Plan.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said both cities were committed to environmental leadership.

“The Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision is one for a green, global and connected city and was developed in consultation with the community and a team of Sydney’s best minds in urban planning, architecture and design,” she said.

“This award acknowledges that City Governments are the experts in urban planning, and that both the City of Sydney and the City of Melbourne are world leaders in strategic thinking, planning and community engagement.”

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said both cities had been awarded for their unique approaches to “community driven” planning.

“Future Melbourne has been the most ambitious community consultation project ever undertaken by the City of Melbourne,” he said.

“The plan outlines the key goals and challenges for the city’s future.

“The extensive community engagement undertaken in the development process has ensured that it is a rich and robust plan that really represents the community’s vision for our city.”