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Local Government right across Australia is standing up to be counted as a leader in building sustainable Australian communities.Each year hundreds of councils enter the National Awards for Innovation in Local Government to showcase innovative practices and projects aimed at addressing the diverse range of issues facing local government and its communities.The Awards, now in their twelfth year, are hosted by the National Office of Local Government within the Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services.The Awards are a peak event for the local government community and an excellent process for identifying, rewarding and promoting innovation in local government. Entries are judged on their role in improving services to communities and their potential to be used by other communities.Over the past 12 years the Awards have reflected major shifts in the role of Local Government. The Awards reward best practice in Local Government in delivering vital services such as waste disposal, community services, infrastructure and roads maintenance. They also highlight the many other roles that Local Government plays in our communities.The categories for the 1999 National Awards for Innovation in Local Government reflect the diversity of local government activity and are sponsored by a host of commercial and government organisations committed to supporting Local Government and their communities. Categories and their sponsors for the 1999 Awards include:
- Engineering, infrastructure and urban design
sponsored by AusIndustry (also Major sponsor of the Awards)
- Community services
sponsored by the Department of Family and Community Services
- Sport, recreation and physical activity
sponsored by Active Australia
- Information technology and organisational practices
sponsored by Online Australia
- Regional and economic development
sponsored by Telstra
- Environment
sponsored by Westpac
- Bushcare
sponsored by Bushcare and the Natural Heritage Trust
- Innovation in emergency management
sponsored by Emergency Management Australia
At the recent launch of the 1999 Awards in Canberra, Senator Ian Macdonald, Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government said the National Awards for Innovation in Local Government were another way in which the Commonwealth seeks to encourage and recognise the valuable work being done at the local level. "The quality of the Awards is demonstrated in the number of entries by Councils across Australia, and the willingness of sponsors to participate", Senator Macdonald said.For local councils, the Awards offer an opportunity to have fine work acknowledged and rewarded. Winning local projects are promoted through word of mouth or through national media coverage. A good idea can go a long way, as Owen Gooding from Yarra Ranges Shire Council in Victoria can attest to:Since the Awards we've had so many inquiries from all States. It's been a fantastic response.
The Awards also offer an important opportunity for Local Government from all over Australia to share ideas and experiences and to take innovative ideas back to their communities.Winners of last year's Award for Economic and regional development, Murrindindi Shire Council used their award-winning project - to help local farmers diversify crops and participate in the global market - as a catalyst for building a Sister-Shire relationship with Boonah Shire in Queensland. Both Councils face similar challenges in sustaining the economic development of their communities, and believe that further innovative projects will be born out of this new partnership.
Media Contacts:
Cathy Parsons (National Office of Local Government): (02) 6274 8118
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