Councils from across NSW have been recognised at the Local Government Week Awards 2024 for their outstanding achievements over the past year.
The highly coveted awards, which took place in Sydney on August 1, celebrate councils that demonstrate excellence across a range of categories, such as arts and culture, events, communications and planning.
The awards are an opportunity for councils to showcase and celebrate successful projects, campaigns and plans that have significantly benefited their communities.
Narrabri Shire Council won multiple awards, including an RH Dougherty Award for excellence in communication for its "Good Talk Great Mate" podcast for young people, and an LGNSW Planning Award for its community-facing online flood portal.
Hawkesbury City Council also won multiple awards, including a Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Award for its community project, Bangadyi Nawi (Making a Canoe), and an RH Dougherty Award for Excellence in Communications for its river safety campaign.
Other winners included Wollongong City Council and Rous County Council, which received RH Dougherty Communications Awards, and Coonable Shire Council, Burwood Council, and The Hills Shire Council, which won RH Dougherty Special Events Awards.
Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Awards were presented to Gilgandra Shire Council and City of Newcastle, while City of Canada Bay Council, Campbelltown City Council and Canberra Region Joint Organisations picked up LGNSW Planning Awards.
Local Government NSW President Darriea Turley congratulated all the award recipients and nominees.
"As the peak body for local government in NSW, we are so proud to showcase the wonderful work our NSW councils are doing right across the state for the benefit of their communities," Cr Turley said.
"These awards - as well as Local Government Week - have once again demonstrated how councils have gone above and beyond in what has been another particularly challenging year for many.
"Whether it be rural, regional or metropolitan areas, it is local government that is on the ground at the frontline, keeping the heart of their communities beating."
The Local Government Week Awards were established in 1981 to recognise and encourage greater understanding and communication by councils to their communities.
