Gawler Mayor Karen Redman. PHOTO: File
GAWLER’S Civic Centre took out a prestigious President’s Award on Thursday night on a national stage.
The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) Awards for Planning Excellence ceremony was held virtually this year and attended by Gawler Mayor Karen Redman and CEO Henry Inat.
During a presentation, national PIA president Steve O’Connor said the Town of Gawler project was the sole recipient of the President’s Award for 2020.
He was “most impressed” in respect to the quality and scope of the heritage restoration and use of what are two of the most significant heritage buildings within the Gawler township.
The Civic Centre was entered under the category of the Great Place Award, which it won at the South Australian PIA Awards for Planning Excellence in November, 2018, along with the Minister’s Award (minister for planning).
Ms Redman expressed her delight at the accolade and thanked all involved in the project.
“I’d just like to say thank you to all involved in this amazing, complex, innovative project that has set my community of Gawler on its path to success,” she said.
“The national recognition of this amazing project is a well-deserved acknowledgement of the sensitive revitalisation and integration of these two state heritage buildings, preserving them for generations to come and transforming them into an amazing community and business hub.”
Mr Inat added the Civic Centre stood out among other nominees.
“The significance of this award win is even more special, in that it won the PIA President’s Award – one would suggest the most prestigious of the award categories,” he said.
Other projects entered into the Great Place category were: Revitalisation of Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane City Council; Princess Street Transformation, Brimbank City Council, Victoria and Manning Community Hub, City of South Perth.
The national awards ceremony was held virtually on YouTube and would otherwise have been held in Adelaide in May as part of the PIA National Congress, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To view the announcement visit: (https://youtu.be/mioB4XvNUtM).
