An indoor sports centre, a rail museum and a town centre redevelopment are among the council projects that have been recognised for excellence in urban development.

The projects have all been named as finalists in the Urban Development Institute of Australia Awards 2020, which recognise innovation, sustainability, leadership and excellence across NSW and the ACT.

UDIA NSW CEO Steve Mann says the public sector makes an important contribution to urban development and the nominations show it can produce excellence in design, placemaking and urban renewal.

“Councils have a unique opportunity to provide outstanding infrastructure to the communities they govern,” he told Government News.

Shoalhaven City Council’s Indoor Sports Centre is up for the running in two categories after being nominated as a finalist in the NSW Regional Development Award of Excellence and Social & Community Infrastructure Award of Excellence.

The facility, spanning a 5,703 m2 building floor area and 47,000 m3 total precinct volume, was constructed in October 2019 at a cost $16.4 million.

Shoalhaven City Council’s Mayor Amanda Findley says it’s an  outstanding result for the facility, which opened a year ago.

She says it’s the only centre of its kind outside the metropolitan region which is able to provide local indoor sporting facilites and attract larger sporting events to the region.

It was developed as part of a broader community recreation precinct.

“I’m delighted that Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Centre has been recognised for its innovative design and significant social benefit to the community”, Cr Findley said in a statement.

The centre has four multi-purpose courts, conference rooms, sports offices, a creche, a gym, grandstand, multiple change rooms, a commercial kitchen and a café. 

Northern Beaches Council has been nominated for an Urban Renewal gong for the Dee Why Town centre revitalisation and Bathurst Council is in the running for social and community infrastructure for the Bathurst Rail Museum, along with Blacktown City Council’s Woodcroft neighbourhood centre.

Meanwhile, Camden Council has two projects up for an award in the Social and Community Infrastructure category for the Curry Reserve  water play space and the Julia Reserve youth precinct.

The awards will be announced at a yet to be determined date.