Murray Bridge Regional Placemaking Strategy

‘Imagine Your Rural City – Murray Bridge 2020’ was part of a number of other strategic investigations within the greater Murray Bridge area in response to its anticipated population growth as identified by the State Government’s 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide. In collaboration with The Rural City of Murray Bridge and Burke Urban, Village Well developed a unique placemaking and community engagement project for Murray Bridge and surrounding townships, during a time of change and growth.

Village Well’s role involved facilitating a series of workshops across the region aimed at understanding the needs and aspirations of the community and to develop a shared vision for the town centre. Village Well also developed a Placemaking Strategy to guide short and medium term actions to realise this community-led vision. Village Well collaborated with Burke Urban to develop the concept and branding for the engagement and placemaking project.

The project forged new relationships between communities, the Council and Burke Urban, which in turn has created significant momentum for renewal in the Murray Bridge region. The Rural City of Murray Bridge in partnership Burke Urban and the Community have continued to successfully work together to deliver many of the placemaking ideas generated as part of the Imagine Murray Bridge project.

In acknowledgement of this innovative approach to planning, Burke Urban and The Rural City of Murray Bridge won the Planning Institute of Australia Excellence Award in the category of public engagement and community planning 2011 and received a commendation for the Minister’s Award category.