Parramatta Light Rail wins gold at the Good Design Awards

Established in 1958 and endorsed by the World Design Organization (WDO), The Australian Good Design Awards honour people, projects, and brands setting the benchmark for excellence in design and innovation.

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 was recognised for embedding urban design, landscape, and architecture from inception, delivering a 12km light rail line, revitalising streetscapes, new civic spaces, and green infrastructure, and improving connectivity, liveability and sustainability across one of Australia’s fastest growing regions.

Standout features of the project included Australia’s longest green track, a 5.7km walking and cycling path, and a citywide tree strategy. The Good Design Awards Jurors recognised how innovative responses to heritage sensitivities, urban heat, and complex interfaces were achieved by the team through clever design, clear communication, and commitment to place-based, people-first outcomes.

The Good Design Awards Jurors stated, “Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 is a city-shaping transport and public domain project in Western Sydney. A timeless, rigorous urban design project, that will clearly benefit its community for the long term.  

“The subtlety of ground treatment, integration of track and lawn, planting and hardscape broadens the application of light rail in the Australian context, supporting the perception of the low impact, embedded nature of this transport mode.  

“The Jury commends the commitment to greening and working in collaboration with local First Nations communities. A powerful example of world-class design.”