Moree Special Activation Precinct

The Moree Special Activation Precinct (SAP) is the fourth program announced in New South Wales (NSW) with the aim to facilitate job creation and economic development in designated regional areas of the state through infrastructure investment and fast-tracked, streamlined planning.

Location

New South Wales, Australia

Client

Department of Planning, Industry & Environment NSW

Project Status

Completed

Planning for a sustainable future

WSP was engaged to work on the Moree Special Activation Precinct, to provide a range of services including circular economy principles for masterplanning as well as Indigenous Design Services.

SAPs are regional towns selected for economic development through business hub revitalisation, creating jobs, attracting businesses and investors, and supporting local industries. Precinct development includes masterplanning, permitted land uses and the identification of specific principal standards.

As part of our work, we facilitated a holistic application of circular economy principles at the masterplanning stage, ensuring that infrastructure and resources are managed as efficiently as possible, with waste minimised. This included the efficient location, or the co-location of certain land uses and infrastructure.

This Future Ready^TM project enables diversification of Moree's proud agricultural economy by building on its strong connection to Country and sustainable water endowments and energy infrastructure.

Designing out waste and pollution

Our team undertook a desktop assessment of the current waste management practices and infrastructures within the Moree Plains Shire local government area and identified future opportunities focusing on industrial waste, construction and demolition waste, resource optimisation and materials included in the COAG export ban.

As a result, the Moree SAP is looking to outline a pathway to develop the area into a future ready business hub with a strong focus on the circular economy.

Working with the local Indigenous communities

Our Indigenous Specialist Design Services team also played a key part in the Moree SAP engagement.

Prior to design of the masterplans, our Indigenous Specialist Services were engaged to provide cultural context mappings and advise on how they should respond to cultural practices. The aim of our involvement was in the understanding of Country – highlighting high level opportunities for Aboriginal involvement, design and engagement.

We engaged and implemented the input of the local Wiradjuri people throughout the masterplanning phase of the SAP. Together, we created and planned for communities that reflected the Traditional Owners of the land and their heritage as well as sacred sites and places of spiritual meaning. To better connect the precincts and to promote inclusiveness we incorporated their designs into public art and landscaping initiatives.

We held an Engagement by Design Session in Moree with Subject Matter Experts from various disciplines and Indigenous stakeholders working iteratively to ensure the eventual masterplan had a wide range of inputs, (sustainability, town planning, structures, business case study, Aboriginal design and cultural and economic land use, social impacts and more).