ÂÜÀò°®Å¾Íø WA President’s Award
AWARDED TO
PLACE Lab and Shire of Esperance
PROJECT
James Street Precinct
The Esperance James Street Cultural Precinct Master Plan demonstrates exceptional and innovative regional planning that holistically addressed the unique needs and opportunities of this remote Western Australian community. Through an inclusive and iterative engagement process, the Shire of Esperance collaborated extensively with stakeholders to envision a vibrant, multifunctional hub integrating cultural attractions, public spaces, and businesses. The master plan links the town centre to the recently upgraded foreshore, enhancing experiential quality and community pride for locals while also attracting and retaining visitors.
A key strength of this regional project was the bespoke community engagement approach, tailored to the needs and aspirations of local residents. Innovative digital platforms combined with in-person outreach enabled broad participation across age groups and organisations, resulting in a high response rate of over 1,400 individuals.
With creativity, inclusiveness and sensitivity to regional identity, this project embodies exemplary planning tailored to local vision and landscape. The master plan's holistic integration of tourism, commerce, culture, recreation and municipal services sets a new standard for activating public spaces to serve diverse community needs.