Editorial

It’s awards season for Local Government, with gala events all over the country – albeit mostly virtual. Still, it’s an excuse to trim your beard or put on your lipstick and get together with colleagues to celebrate the achievements of what everyone agrees has been a tough year.

Technological achievements and innovation rate highly at this level of government. 

Well done to Alpine Shire, Victoria and Sunshine Coast Council, Queensland, for their joint win at the MAV IT Awards. 

While Sunshine Coast Council has received volumes of recognition for its ground breaking International Broadband Submarine Cable project, Alpine Shire’s ‘Project Pinnacle’ proved size isn’t everything when it comes to innovation.

Project Pinnacle was the collaboration of neighbouring councils Alpine, Indigo and Towong which, for a total of around $10,000, engaged IT service provider Datacom to provide a cloud based solution that would provide a seamless digital front desk for customers and a frictionless experience for staff across the three councils. It is sometimes the little things that make the most impact.

Alpine and Sunshine Coast councils will advance to the international stage becoming Australia’s entries in the LOLA International awards for Excellence in Municipal IT.

Technology implemented for the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale’s Briggs Park floodlighting system has been recognised with the Best Use of Technology Award at the Parks and Leisure 2020 WA Awards of Excellence ceremony.

Northern Midlands Council, Tasmania, was recently recognised for delivering best practise in community football facility development with its Campbell Town War Memorial Oval project. Council was lauded for its emphasis on community consultation and high-quality inclusive amenities.

Tweed Regional Museum has won a MAGNA! – a prestigious Australian Museums and Galleries Association award for its Land, Life, Culture exhibition.

To the huge list of high achieving council staff who have invested their time and effort in creating excellence, who have gone above and beyond good enough, who have cared enough to enter their project for examination and ranking against their peers, good job. Congratulations to you all. Keep aiming to be better. It’s the only thing that’s worthwhile.