NGNU provided cultural engagement and advisory services for the Orchard Hills Precinct Masterplan in Western Sydney. Our role focused on embedding Aboriginal cultural values and perspectives into the planning framework to guide future land use and development.
This work supported government and planning partners in ensuring the precinct’s growth reflects cultural heritage, local knowledge, and contemporary community needs.
The key challenge was to incorporate cultural perspectives into a statutory planning process while balancing the expectations of multiple stakeholders. The precinct includes land with heritage significance and future development potential, requiring sensitive consultation and clear frameworks that respect Country while meeting planning and compliance requirements. Aligning Aboriginal perspectives with technical planning documents and governance structures demanded careful translation and communication.
NGNU engaged with Aboriginal stakeholders in accordance with local cultural governance structures to ensure their perspectives informed the Masterplan. Our contribution provided cultural context to decisions around land use, heritage considerations, and allocation of surplus land. By combining planning expertise with culturally grounded engagement, NGNU helped create a framework that respects Aboriginal values while guiding practical development outcomes for Orchard Hills.
