NSW Councils secure awards for environmental achievements

A number of NSW Councils have had their outstanding environmental achievements recognised this week by securing 2022 Local Government NSW Excellence in the Environment Awards at a special event held at Prince Henry Centre in Little Bay.

LGNSW President Darriea Turley said the outstanding quality of nominations for this year’s awards highlighted the fantastic environmental work being undertaken by local government.

Turley noted “the need to protect and enhance our environment has become one of the most critical challenges of the modern day, and these awards show that councils are leading the way in this vitally important sector.

“From Campbelltown City Council’s efforts to identify and protect a small platypus population in the Georges River to Bland Shire Council’s work to build climate resilient unsealed roads and much more, the work councils are undertaking is delivering enormous benefits for the local environment and the communities they represent.

“I would like to congratulate all of the award winners and nominees for their terrific work over the past 12 months.”

The overall winners for each category were:

• Asbestos Management: Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation

• Behaviour Change in Waste: Eurobodalla Shire Council

• Climate Change Adaptation: Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils

• Communication, Education and Empowerment: Campbelltown City Council

• Innovation in Planning, Policies and Decision Making: City of Parramatta Council

• Invasive Species Management: MidCoast Council

• Local Sustainability: Inner West Council

• Natural Environment Protection and Enhancement: Clarence Valley Council

• Sustainable Infrastructure: Bland Shire Council

• Towards Net Zero Emissions: City of Parramatta Council

• Transition to Circular Economy: Shoalhaven City Council

• Water Management: Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation

Meanwhile, Natalya Mendelevich from Randwick City Council was announced as the winner of the prestigious Louise Petchell Memorial Award for Individual Sustainability.

Mendelevich manages the council's native and indigenous Plant with Us program and has been responsible for reforming and transforming the management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes for tree and groundcover planting across Randwick City.

COMPLETE LIST OF ALL AWARD WINNERS' PROJECTS