This year’s Category A joint winners of Victoria’s Premier’s Award for Continuous Improvement in Local Government were South Gippsland Shire Council and Wodonga City Council. Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, presented the award to the joint winners at the Municipal Association of Victoria Annual Conference on 17 October.
South Gippsland Council was extremely proud having won the award for the first time, with Wodonga winning it for a second time. On hand to receive the award were South Gippsland Shire Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter Bull, Mayor, Jeanette Harding and Wodonga’s Mayor, Councillor John Watson and Chief Executive Officer, Peter Marshall.
“It reinforces our efforts to improve the way we do things and indicates the improvements we have made over the past year,” said Councillor Watson. “To win it for the second time is just fantastic. We have a strong customer focus and believe by improving the way we do things the community will ultimately benefit.”
Peter Bull said this award reinforces the success that rural Councils can achieve.
“Our award success also proves that you don’t have to be a metropolitan or regional City Council to be successful in achieving continuous improvement,” he said. “I hope that other rural Councils can take some inspiration from our success.”
Strategies used by Wodonga City Council to continually improve included annual assessments in all areas of operation, regular surveys of users of their services and encouragement and training of staff.
South Gippsland’s victory can be largely attributed to successful staff innovation programs, safety and knowledge management systems and community involvement.
The MAV used the Australian Quality Council and leading private sector exponents of continuous improvement in the assessment of all entrants.
