Murrindindi recognised for innovative approach to housing & growth
Published on 21 September 2026
Murrindindi Shire Council has won the 2026 MAVlab Innovation Award for Design and Planning Excellence in the Thriving Places category, recognising its innovative work to integrate housing, growth and place-based planning to support thriving regional communities.
Council’s ‘Doing Planning Differently: Integrated Design, Housing and Growth Planning to Build Thriving Regional Places’ initiative was announced as the category winner at the MAVlab Innovation Awards Celebration at Fitzroy Town Hall on Thursday 17 September.
Council’s winning initiative brings together a series of major planning, housing and growth projects designed to address some of the most significant challenges facing regional communities, including housing supply, workforce attraction, sustainable growth, infrastructure provision and natural disaster resilience.
The approach brings together a suite of connected initiatives, including:
- Residential Design Guidelines
- Yea Structure Plan
- Alexandra East Development Plan
- Key Worker Housing Strategy
- Eildon Key Worker Housing Project
Mayor Cr Damien Gallagher said the award was significant recognition of Council’s commitment to finding practical, long-term solutions for Murrindindi’s communities.
“Regional communities like ours face complex challenges when it comes to housing and growth, and those challenges can’t be addressed by looking at projects or issues in isolation.
“This work is about ensuring local people can find housing, businesses can attract and retain workers, and our towns can grow in a way that strengthens what makes them unique.
“This award recognises the value of thinking differently, planning for the future and backing bold ideas that help regional communities thrive.”
Council CEO Livia Bonazzi said the award recognised both the community’s support for long-term planning and the work of Team Murrindindi in bringing the initiatives together.
“This recognition reflects several years of work to bring together planning, housing, economic development and community priorities into a coordinated vision for Murrindindi’s future. While each of our towns each has its own character and aspirations, they share a common need for housing, jobs, services and infrastructure that enable communities to prosper.
“The ideas recognised through this award have been shaped by our communities. Their willingness to engage with us, challenge us and trust us to pursue bold ideas has helped turn long-term aspirations into practical action.
“It is also a credit to Team Murrindindi: the vision of Councillors and the dedication of staff have brought together a range of projects and strategies into a practical program of work that is already delivering tangible outcomes for our communities.
“Together, these initiatives are helping create more housing opportunities, support essential and key workers, improve the quality and character of development and direct growth to locations best placed to support it.
“Innovation is also about connecting the right ideas, people and opportunities in a way that delivers better outcomes. That is what this work has sought to achieve, and we are proud to see it recognised on a state-wide stage.”
Read more about Murrindindi Shire Council’s award-winning approach in the MAVlab Innovation Case Study Library: https://www.mav.asn.au/mavlab/futures/mavlab-innovation-library/2026/doing-planning-differently