Brewarrina and Byron shire councils in New South Wales have received a National Award for Excellence in the National Local Government Awards.

The Awards were announced on Thursday by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Local Government Minister Anthony Albanese at the Australian Council of Local Government dinner, held at Parliament House.

Brewarrina Shire Council was awarded for its rural and remote dental program, which provides free dental services to children under the age of 18 and Health Card Holders. The program also includes a mobile service for patients with travel limitations and work experience for dental students.

Byron Shire Council, which won in the small council category, was recognised for its Brunswick area sewerage augmentation scheme. The project initially focused on sewerage works upgrades, but was expanded to include the restoration of a large area of degraded swampland.

Mr Albanese said there were 216 entries this year, with 20 councils and shires receiving awards across 12 categories.

“These winning councils and shires come from right across Australia, from small and large councils, urban and rural, regional and remote,” Mr Albanese said.

“Their projects highlighted local achievements, including in infrastructure, financial management, regional development, urban planning, health, climate change, strengthening Indigenous communities and cultural diversity.”

Award winners were selected by an independent judging panel chaired by the former Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Jim Soorley.

2010 National Local Government Awards – Category Winners

Excellence in Alcohol Management
Winner: Leeton Shire Council, NSW - R U Over It
Small Council Winner (under 15,000 ratepayers): Town of Vincent, WA - Vincent Liquor Accord

Infrastructure Development
Winner: City of Casey, VIC - The Casey Fields Development Project
Small Council Winner (under 15,000 ratepayers): Etheridge Shire Council, QLD - Einasleigh River Bridge

Innovation in Natural Resource Management
Winner:  Blue Mountains City Council, NSW - Save our Swamps Program
Small Council Winner (under 15,000 ratepayers): Byron Shire Council, NSW - Brunswick Area Sewerage Augmentation Scheme: Waltzing the Billabong

Leading Community Climate Change Action
Winner:  Darebin City Council, VIC - Thinking Climate, Making Change in the City of Darebin-Darebin's Climate Change Action

Rural and Remote Health
Winner:  Brewarrina Shire Council, NSW - Brewarrina Rural and Remote Dental Project

Strength in Diversity
Winner:  City of Wodonga, VIC - Spice it Up!

Strengthening Indigenous Communities
Winner:  Frankston City Council, VIC - Frankston City Council and Baluk Arts
Small Council Winner (under 15,000 ratepayers): Lachlan Shire Council, NSW - Widening the Circle

Youth Engagement
Winner:  Kingborough Council, TAS - Conversations in Kingborough - Youth Transport Project
Small Council Winner (under 15,000 ratepayers): Walgett Shire Council, NSW - Walgett Shire Council Youth Engagement Strategy

Asset and Financial Management
Winner:  Waverley Council, NSW - Working within an integrated community planning process to achieve sustainable asset renewal
Small Council Winner (under 15,000 ratepayers): Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council, QLD - NPARC Corporate Planning Framework

Regional Collaborations
Winner:  Hinchinbrook Shire Council, QLD - The Herbert Resource Information Centre: A Community GIS Partnership

Urban Planning Reforms
Winner: Clarence City Council, TAS - Planning for Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Areas
Small Council Winner (under 15,000 ratepayers): Town of Claremont, WA - Claremont North East Precinct Project: A Local Government Urban Regeneration Initiative

Women in Local Government
Winner:  Holroyd City Council, NSW - Women's Development Program
Small Council Winner (under 15,000 ratepayers): Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, WA - Women in Leadership Program