Orange has picked up prizes in the 2022 Tidy Towns Awards announced on the weekend in Singleton.
Orange Tidy Towns Community Committee Chair Cr Kevin Duffy is delighted with the latest awards.
"The Tidy Towns awards are a fantastic acknowledgement of the important work that's done in Orange to build our community and create sustainable local infrastructure," Cr Duffy said. "I'm looking forward to congratulating the award winners when we have a local presentation in the coming weeks."
PRIZE: Receiving Spring Hill's award in the Community Inclusion category are Fred Maw, Beth Mills and Singleton Cr Sue Moore (Photo courtesy Matt Shearer Creative)
Recent work by Orange City Council and community groups to enhance the Waratah Wetlands saw Orange take out the Habitat and Wildlife Conservation category for larger regional cities.
The wetlands are a new recreational area with walking paths and picnic tables in North Orange, alongside the Waratah sporting fields.
Orange also won the Heritage and Culture category in the section for larger regional cities for the Flame of Hope and Reconciliation event. Held in May last year as a reconciliation initiative with the Orange Indigenous community, the event included a torch relay from the CSU campus to a cauldron in the South Court area.
Residents of Spring Hill won the Community Spirit and Inclusion category in the section for villages for their campaign to promote the village and its community facilities.
Orange was awarded Highly Commended in the Community Spirit and Inclusion category in the section for larger regional cities for recent improvements to Mount Lindsay Rotary Park.
Long-serving Orange City Council Natural Resources Coordinator, Roger Smith was also awarded a surprise Special Commendation for his 'long-standing commitment and support' of the Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Towns program.
Scone took out the overall prize, judged NSW's Tidiest Town for 2022. The awards were presented on Saturday 4 March after being postponed from last year due the November floods.
