From left-right: Cr Alan Ward, Parkes Shire Council; Cr Genia McCaffery, President of the Local Government Association of NSW;  Minister for Local Government Barbara Perry; Kelly Hendry, Parkes Shire Council tourism manager; and Michael Tyler, Country Energy. Image: LGSA.

Events including the annual Elvis Parkes Festival and a campaign against e-waste were recognised in the annual Local Government Week Awards in Sydney last night.

Overall 38 councils received awards from across NSW. The Awards evening, which marks the official launch of LG Week, celebrates councils' hard work and commitment to meeting the needs of their residents.

President of the Local Government Association of NSW, Cr Genia McCaffery, said the high quality of this year's entries is testament to the bright future many of our councils are building for their communities.

"The LG Week Awards demonstrate that councils are consistently creating new and innovative concepts to help meet the needs of their communities," said Cr McCaffery.

"Councils provide hundreds of services on a daily basis that go above and beyond the traditional roles of rates, roads and rubbish."
President of the Shires Association of NSW, Cr Bruce Miller, said that Local Government Week plays an important role in promoting the importance of councils to the community.

"Council facilities like libraries, leisure centres and playgrounds- the places where people gather to learn, get healthier or make new friends – are building blocks of our communities and this is highlighted in this year's Local Government Week theme of Building a Brighter Future," said Cr Miller.

"From Wellington to Warringah, Ballina to Bega – each council's activities for the week are as unique as the community they represent."

2010 Heart Foundation NSW Local Government Awards

Planning for Active Living
WINNER: Snowy River Shire Council – Jindabyne Action Plan

Provision and Use of Facilities to Improve Heart Health
WINNER: The Hills Shire Council – All Accessible Playground

Programs that Improve Heart Health in Priority Groups
WINNER: Kempsey Shire Council – Gardening for Health
Highly Commended: Holroyd City Council – Active and Inclusive Sports Program

Programs that Promote Healthy Weight
WINNER: Kogarah City Council – Say No to Trans Fats

Programs and Policies that Reduce Exposure to Tobacco
WINNER: Port Stephens Council – Smoke Free Outdoor Areas Policy
Highly Commended: Clarence Valley Council – Smoke Free Outdoor Areas Policy

Workplace Programs that Improve Employee Heart Health and Wellbeing
WINNER: Wyong Shire Council – Employee Wellbeing Program

Overall NSW Winner
WINNER: Kogarah City Council – Say No to Trans Fats

Best on-going commitment to local Youth Week programs
WINNER: Port Macquarie-Hastings Council

Most Innovative Youth Week Program in 2010
WINNER: Lake Macquarie City Council

Best Small Council with the most outstanding Youth Week program in 2010
WINNER: Uralla Shire Council

Best Local Youth Week Program in 2010
WINNER: Fairfield City Council

Cancer Council Local Government Partnership Awards

Highly Commended
Wagga Wagga City Council
Sutherland Shire Council
Gosford City Council
Fairfield City Council

Shires Association Member
WINNER: Bogan Shire Council

Local Government Association Member
WINNER: Randwick City Council

2010 RH Dougherty Award winners

Excellence in communication
(Division A: less than 30,000)
WINNER: Parkes Shire Council – 2009 CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival
Highly commended: Lithgow City Council – Live Well Lithgow Challenge 2009

(Division B: 30,000 – 100,000)
WINNER: Pittwater Council – Ban E Waste in Landfill
Highly commended: Auburn Council – Cleaner Streets for a Better Neighbourhood Campaign
Highly commended: Willoughby City Council – Artarmon Loop – Free Shuttle Service

(Division C: more than 100,000)
JOINT WINNERS:
The City of Newcastle – Newcastle Voice – Community Reference Panel
Gosford City Council – Gosford Challenge
Highly commended: Hornsby Shire Council – Hornsby Shire Housing Strategy

(Division D: ROCS and County Councils)
Highly commended: MidCoast County Council – MidCoast Water’s Water Smart Rebate Program

Reporting to Your Community
(Division A: less than 30,000)
Highly commended: Goulburn Mulwaree Council Communications Strategy – Improvements to the Community Newsletter 2009

(Division B: 30,000 – 100,000)
WINNER: Tweed Shire Council – Tweed Link – Tweed Shires Council’s Weekly Newspaper

(Division C: more than 100,000)
WINNER: Randwick City Council – Randwick by Pauline Curby Celebrating 150 Years of Heritage
Highly commended: City of Ryde – Welcome to the City of Ryde – New Residents Kit

Outstanding Individual Contribution
WINNER: Auburn Council, Ms Julie Milsom
Highly commended: Mosman Council, Mr Bernard de Broglio

Award for Innovation in Communication
WINNER: Rockdale City Council

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