The winners of this year’s National Awards for Local Government have been announced, ranging from renewable energy projects through to road safety innovation.
The awards celebrate innovation in councils, with Federal Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government John McVeigh praising the high standard of entrants for the 2018 awards.
“They show what local governments can accomplish for their communities across a range of areas—the arts, regional growth, public safety, disability access and Indigenous communities,” he said.
“From establishing a solar energy farm to setting up a community emergency management network, these projects will improve daily life in country townships, regional centres and major cities right across the country. They go way beyond what many people would think is the role of local government.
The category winners are:
- Victoria’s Gannawarra Shire Council for its Gannawarra Performing Arts Partnership Delivery Model project in the Arts Animates—Excellence in Building Vibrant and Resilient Communities Category
- Victoria’s City of Melbourne for The Melbourne Renewal Energy Project,in the Contributing to Regional Growth category
- Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Regional Council, for its Sunshine Coast Solar Farmproject in the Boosting Productivity through Infrastructure category
- Western Australia’s City of Stirling for its Recycling Centre Balcatta—new model for operating a tip shop project in the Disability Access and Inclusion category
- Victoria’s Cardinia Shire Council for its Together We Can project in the Prevention and Community Safety category
- Queensland’s Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council for its Ngana Muruku Jundjurrjiku Janay Wujal Wujal Emergency Management Network and Community Forum project, in the Achieving Big Things in Small Communities category
- Victoria’s Yarra City Council for its Yarra’s Road Safety Innovation project, in the Excellence in Road Safety category
- Victoria’s City of Ballarat for its Geo-spatial Collaboration to Improve Community Safetyproject, in the Innovation to Create More Liveable and Collaborative Communities category
- South Australia’s District Council of Elliston for itsElliston Reconciliation Monument Wordingproject, in the Promoting Indigenous Recognition category
Ashleigh Tapper of Western Australia’s City of Armadale is the winner in the Next Gen Local Government Leader category
The overall National Award for Excellence winner will be announced on 19 June.
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