Queensland's innovative Kelvin Grove Urban Village has won the 2004 Planning Institute of Australia National Award for Excellence in Environmental Planning in Hobart last night.Minister for Public Works, Housing and Racing, Robert Schwarten, said the award showed the Smart State was leading the way nationally in terms of planning, design and commitment to environmental sustainability.
"The Kelvin Grove Urban Village has set new benchmarks for more sustainable development in an inner-urban area," he said.
"This award recognises the project's continued high level of innovation and creativity, environmental quality, community benefit and technical competence."
Mr Schwarten said the award was presented to the Department of Housing and Queensland University of Technology as the project partner.
The award also recognised contributions by the project's major consultants the Department of Public Works' Project Services, Hassell and Connell Wagner.
"Two years ago, the Kelvin Grove Urban Village received a Royal Australian Planning Institute (now Planning Institute of Australia) Award for its master plan and last night's award shows we are delivering on what we set out to achieve in terms of design and construction," he said.
Mr Schwarten said the Kelvin Grove Urban Village was being developed by the Department of Housing in partnership with the Queensland University of Technology to create a dynamic mixed-use development on 17 hectares of land, between the existing university campus and Kelvin Grove Road.
The $500 million project consists of a mix of housing options including affordable housing and educational, health, retail, recreational, community and business opportunities, blended into an exciting new precinct.
"The Urban Village is already coming to life, with the $38 million streets, parks and footpaths infrastructure project already completed, the new La Boite theatre open, and QUT's Creative Industries Precinct opening to students next week," Mr Schwarten said.
"Construction on the first residential and retail developments will also commence in the coming months."
Mr Schwarten said over the next five years, the area would be transformed into a vibrant community where people from a range of ages and backgrounds can live, learn and relax in one place."
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