Alice Springs recently won the Best Overall prize in Northern Territory’s Better Practice in Local Government Awards for the second year. Council won the best project in the Community Services and Environment categories, then its Community Services project won the overall prize for best project.
“I was very proud to have the work of the Council as a whole recognised by winning the top award from 38 entries across the Territory,” said Mayor Fran Erlich. “We have worked very hard in recent years to ensure we have the best professional practices throughout the Council. This award is a significant recognition of our efforts to improve how we operate and work with the community.”
The Community Services/Best Overall ‘Working Together’ entry covered a number of joint projects under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Alice Springs and Tangentyere Councils.
These projects include the Todd River Couch Reduction Program, the upgrading of Town Camp roads and the development of an organic waste recycling service. Attracting outside funding of $1.2 million, cooperation between the Councils also includes By-Laws Officers and Tangentyere Wardens working together on issues such as river camping, littering and animal management.
The development of the Alice Springs Landfill, detailed in an entry called ‘Waste Management Planning and Implementation Program Alice Springs’, was the winner in the Environment category. It dealt with moving from a simple waste burying service with few environmental safeguards, to a modern landfill based on current best practices.
Steps in the process included identifying environmental problems at the site, developing a system of environmental management and monitoring and listing materials that are inappropriate for tip face disposal It also included developing alternative disposal methods, guidelines for landfill operations, developing a waste minimisation strategy, developing the landfill as a recycling hub and controlling stormwater run off from the site.
For further information on these projects contact Nick Scarvelis, Chief Executive Officer on 0417 876 426.
