Better Cities delivered the award‑winning Roper Gulf Active and Connected project through a deeply place‑based, culturally informed process that combined on‑country engagement, Local Authority workshops, youth sessions and collaboration with Traditional Owners to understand how remote communities use, value and access recreation spaces.

This was supported by a full audit of sport, recreation and community‑use assets across multiple townships, analysis of demographic and health indicators, and a clear assessment of future infrastructure and program needs.

By pairing this evidence base with community‑led design thinking, Better Cities produced a practical, prioritised and implementable strategy that strengthened participation, wellbeing and local identity setting a new benchmark for recreation planning in remote Australia and earning national recognition for innovation and community impact.