The design, which includes a range of house block sizes, waterways, parks and cycleways, won Orange City Council the public practice achievement award, with urban design consultants Oculus winning the excellence in planning award.

Council sustainable development committee chair Jeff Whitton said the Shiralee land release was “a pioneering project for council”. 

“Rather than waiting for developers to set the tone of a new housing area, the Shiralee project saw council aiming to get in early before any subdivisions were proposed and with community consultation, put some high-quality urban principles in place,” he said.

“At Shiralee, instead of bulldozing creek lines, the plan is to maintain and enhance the creeks by building parks and keeping remaining bushland in place.”

Orange deputy mayor Chris Gryllis said open space was key to the design. 

“Instead of marking the boundary of a park with the backs of houses and coloured metal fences, the park areas in Shiralee have streets on their edges.”

Development services director David Waddell said there were some fantastic design elements in the Shiralee plan.

“There was a lot of work involved in not only coming up with these ideas, but also consulting with a range of government departments and local landholders,” he said.

“The staff and the consultants have done a great job.”

tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.au