Top local governments recognised for best practice projects

article-body

Western Australian councils have taken home the most trophies in this years’ National Awards for Local Government.

Local government minister Mark Coulton on Friday congratulated the nine winners, noting that more than 100 applications were submitted across all award categories this year.

“As in previous years, the standard of applications for the 2020 National Awards for Local Government is very high across all categories,” he said.

“As a former mayor, I know how hard our local governments work to build stronger and more sustainable communities to meet the growing needs of their residents — especially this year having experienced drought, bushfires, floods and now a pandemic.”

Administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development, the awards celebrate the local governments which have provided communities with services that foster inclusiveness, diversity, vibrancy and cohesiveness, according to Coulton.

“By providing national recognition for councils for their innovative and best practice projects, these awards acknowledge and celebrate the vital role they play in delivering services at the local level,” he said.

The 2020 applications were judged by independent panels of government, non-government and industry experts.

The winners of each category are as follows:

• The City of Wanneroo (WA) has won the arts animates category for its DJ course project,
• The City of Busselton (WA) has taken home the award for boosting productivity through infrastructure, with its Busselton Margaret River Airport development project,
• The City of Mandurah (WA) has won in the category of contributing to regional growth, for its entrepreneurial capacity building program,
• The City of Sydney (NSW) has taken home the disability access and inclusion award for its inclusive and accessible public domain policy guidelines,
• Queanbeyan-Palerang Council (NSW) has been awarded for excellence in road safety for its safe systems speed project for local roads,
• Sunshine Coast Regional Council (Qld) has won the multicultural Australia category for its migrant work ready program,
• The City of Greater Dandenong (VIC) has been recognised for addressing violence against women and their children with its Youth United Against Family Violence project,
• Glenelg Shire Council (SA) has won the promoting Indigenous recognition category with its Glenelg Aboriginal Partnership agreement,
• Brimbank City Council (VIC) has won the Susan Grace Benny Award for its women’s leadership programs.

These local governments are now in the running for the 2020 National Award for Excellence in Local Government, which will be announced along with the Minister’s Award for Progressive Community Leadership later in the year.