Where it all started
Ward Planning and Consulting was born from a passion for helping regional and rural communities grow through practical, place-based planning.
We exist to bridge the gap between planning challenges and real-world community outcomes.
After many years working in local government across regional NSW, I saw the pressures councils face — juggling limited resources, increasing planning demands, and the complexities of state systems. I started this consultancy to provide the kind of flexible, experienced support I knew was needed — especially in smaller communities like my own in Narromine.
Ward Planning and Consulting exists to fill the gaps: offering short-term planning support, guiding development applications through the NSW Planning Portal, and collaborating across all levels of government to get projects off the ground. We’re here to make planning easier, clearer, and more effective.
Melissa Ward
Director | Ward Planning and Consulting
Melissa is a qualified town planner with over 25 years of experience in both city and rural councils across New South Wales. She holds a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New England and has dedicated her career to supporting sustainable growth and development in regional communities.
Based in Narromine, Melissa brings a practical, grounded approach to planning—shaped by decades of hands-on work in local government. Outside of her professional life, she’s a proud wife and mother of two girls and two boys, deeply connected to her local community.