Pilbara has award-winning plan for the future
A blueprint document laying plans for future growth in the Pilbara has won an award at the recent Planning Institute of Australia’s Planning Excellence WA Awards.
The award recognised the State Government’s Pilbara Planning and Infrastructure Framework document, which aims to shape development in the region over the next 25 years.
Long-serving planning officers Jim and Wanda Kaucz have spent the past five years living in the Pilbara region, and are currently overseeing the implementation of the Framework. They accepted the award on behalf of the Department of Planning.
Department of Planning director general Eric Lumsden said the award was well earned because his team had created a document critical to the region’s future.
“The Pilbara Framework forms the only single-source point of reference for planning and policy development in the Pilbara region,” Mr Lumsden said.
The award comes as the Pilbara continues to battle a string of social and economic problems that have arisen due to the explosive and unplanned growth in mining in the region.
But designers of the Pilbara Planning and Infrastructure Framework released earlier this year are hopeful it can tackle many of these issues.
It details strategies to address economic growth, environmental and heritage issues, transport, infrastructure, water resources, tourism and the emerging impacts of climate change.
Creating affordable housing and access to higher standards of education, health and recreation services are another priority in the document.
It also outlines the importance of conserving and celebrating the Pilbara’s natural and cultural heritage, including its coastline, Karijini National Park and the Burrup Peninsula’s rock-art.
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