City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin named WA’s 2024 Planning Champion

City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin has been named WA’s Planning Champion for 2024 at the Planning Institute of Australia’s (PIA) WA awards. 

Mayor Irwin, who has served as Mayor since 2017, received the honour at the State Awards for Planning Excellence in Perth on Friday night. 

The Planning Champion award recognises non-planners for their significant contribution to planning through advocacy and influence. 

It is awarded to a person, group or organisation that has raised public awareness and understanding of planning. 

Mayor Irwin’s nomination highlighted several key recent planning projects which have benefited from his leadership, including the City’s Trackless Tram Trial and business case. 

The trial brought a trackless tram from China to Stirling, where a digital rail and replica station were installed in the City’s Administration Centre carpark. 

Held in November 2023, the trial included a community open day, and a Net Zero Symposium attended by more than 150 transport and planning experts. 

The trial has reshaped Australian urban transit discussions, with Mayor Irwin invited to speak about the City’s experiences at various state and national conferences.  

It earned the City the Productivity through Infrastructure award at the 2024 National Awards for Local Government. 

Mayor Irwin’s nomination also outlined how he has worked to make planning more accessible to the public during his time as Mayor. 

His approach of bringing the community along on the planning journey has raised the profile of the profession. 

He has also shown City planners the value of using plain English whenever possible to increase understanding of the planning process. 

His strong support for planners was demonstrated at a Council meeting in 2021, when he spoke out against the disrespectful treatment of City staff over a contentious development proposal. 

Those public comments attracted attention from planners and media across WA. 

In a statement on Friday night, the PIA praised Mayor Irwin’s ability to “bridge the gap between planners and the public”. 

“Mark Irwin’s leadership, advocacy and innovative approach to supporting planning have been instrumental in the City of Stirling’s success in delivering positive outcomes for its community,” the PIA said. 

“His commitment to encouraging innovative planning practices has resulted in improved planning outcomes across the City. 

“His approach models how non-planners in leadership positions can effectively champion the planning profession and contribute to better outcomes for their communities.”  

The City was also a finalist in the Stakeholder Engagement category for its Locally Led Stirling initiative. 

Locally Led Stirling aligns with WA’s local government reforms and delivers on the City’s vision of being a sustainable City with a local focus, inviting everyone to get involved in shaping what it means to be “a local”.