The winners of the 2024 Local Government NSW Excellence in the Environment Awards have been announced at a special event held at Dockside, Cockle Bay Wharf in Sydney.
The awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of NSW councils in their efforts to manage and protect the environment.
There were 32 winners across a wide variety of categories ranging from asbestos and waste management to natural environment protection, climate change action and community empowerment.
The prestigious awards ceremony was emceed by author, landscape architect, environmental educator and television presenter Costa Georgiadis.
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President Cr Darriea Turley AM congratulated all the winners and said this year's submissions were exceptional.
"The need to protect and enhance our environment has become one of the most critical challenges of the modern day, and these awards demonstrate how local councils across NSW are leading the way," Cr Turley said.
"It's important that we celebrate and recognise the amazing work being done by councils and council staff.
"It's clear that councils are meeting environmental challenges head-on, with innovation and passion, achieving meaningful outcomes for their communities."
Cr Turley also thanked LGNSW Director Cr Penny Pedersen for speaking at the awards ceremony on behalf of the LGNSW Board.
"Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, so I'm grateful to Cr Pedersen for representing me and being there to congratulate the award winners on their achievements," Cr Turley said.
For each of the awards, there are four divisions based on the type of organisation and its population base.
The overall winners for each category are:
- Asbestos Management: Moree Plains Shire Council
- Behaviour Change in Waste: Edward River Council
- Climate Change Adaptation: Hawkesbury City Council
- Communication, Education and Empowerment: Goulburn Mulwaree Council
- Innovation in Planning, Policies and Decision Making: Blacktown City Council
- Invasive Species Management: Hilltops Council
- Natural Environment Protection and Enhancement: Parkes Shire Council
- Sustainable Infrastructure: City of Parramatta
- Towards Net Zero Emissions: Central NSW Joint Organisation
- Transition to Circular Economy: Penrith City Council
- Water Management: Central NSW Joint Organisation
Lane Cove Council has been awarded the prestigious Local Sustainability Award, with a prize of a $10,000 to put towards professional development in sustainable practice.
Meanwhile, Helen Burnie from Blacktown City Council was announced as the winner of the prestigious Louise Petchell Memorial Award for Individual Sustainability.
Ms Burnie drove Blacktown City Council's response to climate change and has substantially reduced energy consumption through streetlight upgrades and installing rooftop solar, heat pumps, and EV charging stations.
She led innovative projects, including Australia's first "heat refuge" program and the Regenesis project, which resulted in the first council-owned forest registered under the NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme.
LGNSW thanks the sponsors of the 2024 Excellence in the Environment Awards: Landcom, Exchange for Change, Active Super, Water Directorate, Cleanaway, WolfPeak, NSW Environment Protection Authority and NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
