A community plan to improve health, wellbeing, and education outcomes for Nyiyaparli and Martu people living in East Newman has won the Planning with Country Award at the 2024 Planning Institute of Australia’s National Excellence Awards.
The Plan was recognised as a State winner at the end of 2023, placing it among the finalists for the national award.
The East Newman Precinct Structure Plan (ENPSP), co-designed by Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation, Jamukurnu Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation, and Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service with the support of Newman Futures and Hames Sharley, outlines vital priorities for improving housing, community facilities, and community amenities to improve the outcomes for people living in East Newman.
The ENPSP forms part of the Newman Futures project facilitated by Creating Communities and supported by BHP.
The Plan was the product of a four-year co-design process alongside Traditional Owners, other First Nations community members, and Newman stakeholders that identified the need for a community service centre, housing solutions, spaces for young people, upgrades to parks and streetscapes, and short-stay accommodation for dialysis patients.
In commending the project, the Planning Institute of Australia’s judges recognised the Plan as an exceptional example of a First Nations-led planning process, identifying critical infrastructure that will create ongoing, lasting, and meaningful health, wellbeing, education, and employment benefits.
The judges praised the project as a stellar example of community-led First Nations planning, setting a standard for other States to follow.
Newman is Nyiyaparli Country, but many Martu now live there. In 2020, Nyiyaparli and Martu signed the This is Our Dream Cultural Compact to formalise their agreement to work together in Newman.
The Plan is the first major project resulting from the Cultural Compact. The ENPSP aims to create a thriving community in East Newman by delivering key priorities for better healthcare, housing, education and cultural wellbeing opportunities.
This award provides due recognition to the Nyiyaparli and Martu leaders for their hard work and commitment to community planning and the progress already achieved through the ENPSP.
Creating Communities’ CEO, Donna Shepherd, who attended the awards ceremony, noted that it was deeply satisfying to witness the Traditional Owners receiving the Award.
“In 2020, the key proponents behind the cultural plan, the leaders of the Nyiyaparli and Martu peoples, sat shoulder to shoulder to sign a Cultural Compact that affirmed their intent to work together,” Donna said.
“To see them recognised for the fruit of this agreement together while being part of co-designing this Plan with them was enormously satisfying,”
“Our vision is to bring people to the table together to turn big and small social challenges into big possibilities and move forward together. To join them on stage and receive this award together affirmed the heart of our purpose as a team,” Donna said.
The proponents are now looking to implement the key priorities of the ENPSP, starting with a multipurpose community hub, multigenerational housing precinct, spaces for young people, upgrades to parks and streetscapes, and short-stay accommodation for dialysis patients.
They are inviting businesses and the government to join them and support their vision for a Strong Culture and Strong Family in East Newman through funding and partnerships.
For more information, visit: www.enpsp.com.au and www.newmanfutures.com.au