Friday night’s UDIA (SA) Awards for Excellence saw community housing provider Junction take home four of the twelve project awards, including Project of the Year for Clifton Park, a mixed housing development delivered in partnership with the South Australian Housing Authority.
The annual awards recognise innovation and excellence in development across the scope of each project, and reflect the industry’s contribution to liveability in this state.
UDIA SA chief executive Liam Golding congratulated all the winners.
“The calibre of entries in the UDIA’s Awards for Excellence never fails to impress and this year is no exception,” Golding said.
“The developments, projects and people that nominated made for a competitive field and I don’t envy the decisions that judges had to make!
“At a time when housing supply and affordability is critically low, it is reassuring to see our members delivering an array of housing typologies to meet needs across the full spectrum of the housing market.
“And they aren’t just building the houses, they’re innovating to ensure that the products they deliver offer sustainable features that keep ongoing costs down, are integrated well with the built and natural environment, and offer strong foundations for people and communities to thrive.”
Among the winners was Charter Hall for their well-considered CBD building, 60 King William, picking up the Sustainability Award for their carbon-neutral approach and advanced sustainability features and technologies that set a high bar for future developments.
Southern Cross Care was awarded the Seniors Living Award for the Oakfield Rise Retirements Estate Community Centre; Otello for their boutique development Hyland Avenue; and Forme Projects for Hurtle&Co. Stage 05.
Commenting on the Project of the Year winner from Junction, the judges called it “a purpose driven development outcome achieving a ‘tenure blind’ mix of housing typologies incorporating community, affordable and market product” and a “well considered design that respects the interface with existing development”.
Positioned on a main transport corridor and close to education, health and retail precincts, Clifton Park comprises 70 per cent affordable housing.
The judges noted that the project served as a catalyst for the upgrading of the adjoining linear park to the benefit of both residents and the broader community.
“The success of the project and engagement of the residents was obvious as the judges observed several happy groups of residents enjoying their social walking groups from Clifton Park along the linear path,” they said.
Awards are given across three main entry categories — project, company and individual — while the Project of the Year, is selected from the 2023 award winners at the discretion of the judges.
Junction also won the Affordable Housing and Urban Renewal awards for Clifton Park and the Aged Care and Community Housing Award for its 4-storey Churchill Road development.
As well, UDIA SA member TAARNBY™ won the Professional Consulting Award for their work on the Clifton Park development.
Junction senior development manager Brad McKenzie said, in undertaking the Renewal SA-initiated Clifton Park project, the company was motivated to challenge the paradigm and deliver a community that fully responded to residents wishes while also having a mix of market affordable and community housing.
“Part of the solution for the housing crisis is the creation of medium and high-density environments where a diverse range of people can live cohesively together,” McKenzie said.
“For Junction, it’s about providing really well-located housing close to key amenities, like employment, education and public transport, because that’s really essential for people to thrive.
He said it was important to Junction that, as developers, they did not “walk away” after delivery, but helped to ensure each community continued to thrive “in the long haul”.
“We want to use this as the precedent to do more of these types of projects moving forward,” he said.
“We’ve proven that the seamless blend of market, affordable and community housing outcomes does work if done right. We’re so proud of that and can’t wait to do more.”
UDIA SA’s Golding said its members “put every effort into creating exceptional developments, open spaces and amenities”.
“From quality affordable housing for those most in need and boutique and apartment living, to urban renewal developments and the marketing of what are set to be premier destinations in the future, entries in the awards demonstrate the significant and valuable contributions that our sector is making to the growth of South Australia’” he said.
Winners in the individual and company categories are: Women in Leadership Award: Sharyn Chadwick of SA Housing Authority; Stuart Main Young Leader Award: Michael Leech of M3 Property; Greg Waller Award: Steve Wilden of Land Services SA; and Diversity in Development Award: SA Housing Authority.
Eligible winners in selected Award categories will go on to represent South Australia at the UDIA National Awards for Excellence, to be held in Melbourne in March 2024.
To see the full list of winners and read more about the UDIA Awards for Excellence, visit udiasa.com.au
The awards are supported by the following sponsors:
Major sponsor — nbn Australia
Category sponsors — Alexander Symonds, Holmes Dyer, InDaily, Junction, Land Services SA, Local Government Association of South Australia, nbn Australia, Oliver Hume, Renewal SA, SA Water, Taarnby, Them and Whittles
