Sunshine Coast development wins top prize at UDIA national awards

The coveted top honour for Project of the Year at the UDIA National Awards for Excellence 2023 has gone to a $4 billion Sunshine Coast residential community development.

Australian developer AVID Property Group’s flagship community, Harmony, also claimed the National Award for Masterplanned Communities.

AVID Property Group General Manager Queensland Bruce Harper said the project would eventually be home to 13,000 people.

“Central to Harmony’s success was the early meticulous planning and project visioning the AVID team undertook to map out every aspect of the master planned community, from the land sizes and configurations to road widths, landscaping, transport links, greenspaces and amenities,’’ Mr Harper said.

“We didn’t turn one sod of soil until this process had been completed.

“Our vision for Harmony wasn’t just about meeting increased demand for infrastructure and housing on the Sunshine Coast,’’ he said.

“Equally important to the AVID team was creating a connected and cohesive community that went above and beyond expectations and surpassed and redefined urban design standards in Australia.”

The winners were crowned at a gala dinner in Perth at the UDIA National Congress 2023 and demonstrated the very best that Australia’s urban development industry has to offer.

“This year, I was proud to see the winners from each state recognised for their ability to innovate and adapt to a rapidly changing marketplace and reflect the outstanding individual qualities present in our membership,” Maxwell Shifman, UDIA National President, said.

Small Scale Development Award winner Park Terraces.

Among three Western Australia winners was Celsius Developments’ award for Small Scale Development.

Its Shenton Park infill development site, Park Terraces, was described by UDIA WA CEO Tanya Steinbeck as “a unique infill development that is also adding to the local streetscape.”

“Quality infill development is so critical to Perth’s future growth,” Ms Steinbeck said.

“It is projects like Park Terraces that are a fantastic demonstration of medium density, infill development done well.”

UDIA National Awards For Excellence winners:

• Young Leaders' Award Winner: Rachel Ezzard, Stockland, WA
• Women in Leadership Award Winner: Michele Adair, Housing Trust, NSW
• Award for Marketing Winner: Altura, West Village – Sekisui House Australia, Qld
• Award for Seniors Living Winner: Rosewood West Perth – Rosewood Care Group, WA
• Diversity in Development Award Winner: Lendlease
• Award for Social and Community Infrastructure Winner: Activating reservoir reserves for healthy communities – SA Water, SA
• Award for Sustainability Winner: Nightingale Ballarat – Hygge Property with Nightingale Housing, Vic
• Award for Urban Renewal Winner: Midtown Centre – AsheMorgan & DMann Corporation, Qld
• Award for Affordable Housing Winner: Daly Street – Otello, SA
• Award for Residential Development Winner: Catherine Park – Harrington Estates & The Fairfax Group, NSW
• Award for Masterplanned Communities Winner: Harmony by AVID Property Group – AVID Property Group, Qld
• Award for Small Scale Development Winner: Park Terraces – Celsius Developments, WA
• Award for Medium Density Development Winner: Parkridge Noosa - Altum Property Group, Qld
• Award for High Density Development Winner: Treehouse by Aria – Aria Property Group, Qld
• Award for Design Winner: Sofitel Adelaide - Palumbo Group, SA
• Project of the Year Winner: Harmony by AVID Property Group – AVID Property Group, Qld