Otium Planning Group is proud to announce that, in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council, we are the co-recipient of the 2020 Parks and Leisure Australia (Queensland division) Award for Excellence in the Strategic Planning category for the development of the Sunshine Coast Sports Infrastructure Plan (2019-2041).
PLA Queensland award winners were announced at an on-line function on 25 August 2020. The Strategic Planning category was well contested with nominations also received from Toowoomba Regional Council, Brisbane City Council and Redland City Council.
Otium was engaged to work with the Council in the development of the Sunshine Coast Sports Infrastructure Plan (2019-2041), the aim of which was to determine triggers and priorities for the supply of new sports infrastructure over the next 20 years in the Sunshine Coast Local Government area.
With a population in excess of 300,000, Sunshine Coast Council is one of the fastest growing regions in Queensland, with some areas of the Coast growing faster than others.
Recommendations identified projected gaps in future provision as well as opportunities for improved use of existing facilities. They were informed by extensive analysis of the supply, distribution and capacity of facilities across each of Sunshine Coast Council’s six Planning Areas; population estimates; consultation with local, regional and state sporting bodies; and the application of detailed modelling tools developed by Otium to assist in assessing future needs.
“Sunshine Coast Council should be congratulated for its vision in defining an innovative planning project to guide investment in sport and recreation infrastructure over a long-term horizon”, Otium Managing Director, Kate Maddock, said. “The project was a great collaboration with Council officers.”
Otium congratulates its project team headed by Senior Associate, David Mason and Senior Consultant, Margaret Barrett, and the Council’s project manager, Nathan Walker-Edwards.