Business and Regional Development
Sponsored by the Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services
National & Overall Category Winner – City of Casey (Vic)
Skills for the Future – A Partnership Between the City of Casey, Motorola, Department of Education, Employment and Training and Local Schools
Rural Winner – Cabonne, Blayney and Orange Councils (NSW)
Ophir Gold 2000 – Our Olympic Dream
Summer Hill Creek, Ophir (near Orange) has a unique place in Australian history as the place where the first payable gold discovery took place. The region decided to capitalise on this and came up with a campaign to promote the Orange, Cabonne and Blayney areas by providing the gold for the Sydney 2000 Olympic medals. A detailed Marketing Plan was adopted and received full support from the community, councils, local business, S.O.C.O.G, the Australian Olympic committee and NSW Tourism. The project achieved outstanding results and a place in Australian folklore by supplying the gold for the gold medals at the “Best Ever” Olympic Games.
Contact: Mr Graeme Fleming Cabonne Shire Council
Tel: (02)6392-3200
Fax: (02)6392-3260
Email: Graeme.Flemimg@cabonne.nsw.gov.au
Community Services
Sponsored by the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services
Winner – Wyndham City Council (Vic)
Wyndham Household Panel
Council developed a representative sample of the community in a Household Panel matching the municipality in demographics and attitude. This panel of over 400 households is surveyed every four to six weeks and asked to participate in many forms of consultation. The information provides a growing database of community attitudes and lifestyle which is then incorporated into Council planning. The innovation has reduced Council’s consultation costs and delivered richer and more reliable results than conventional methods.
Contact: Ms Emma Williams Wyndham City Council
Tel: (03)9742-0776
Fax: (03)9742-0722
Email: Emma.Williams@wyndham.vic.gov.au
Rural Winner – Shire of Broome (WA)
Native Title Audit and Officer
In accordance with the Shire of Broome’s commitment to reconciliation, native title has been identified as an important part of the planning process. The Shire of Broome is the first Local Government authority in Australia to conduct native title training and adopt a Native Title Audit. One of the Audit recommendations has put in place a Native Title Officer who will address issues such as Aboriginal heritage and implementation of the recommendations of the Native Title Audit. The Shire considers this a very effective use of resources towards reconciliation in Broome.
Contact: Mr Greg Powell Shire of Broome
Tel: (08)9191-34566
Fax: (08)9193-6407
Email: ceo@broome.wa.gov.au
Engineering and Infrastructure
Sponsored by Ansett Australia
Overall and Rural Winner Towong Shire Council (Vic)
Krata Shaka Road Rehabilitation Innovation
In a new process developed by local staff and small business, Krata Shaka achieved its objective of eliminating the manual handling of binder materials at a minimal cost to create a more cost-effective method of carrying out small road patching and rehabilitation jobs. The technique uses a towable unit in a simple, safe, time-saving and cost-effective treatment with strong potential for local and overseas commercial development.
Contact: Mr David Parker Towong Shire Council
Tel: (02)6071-2999
Fax: (02)6071-2747
Email: davidp@towong.vic.gov.au
Health Services and Aged Care
Sponsored by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care
Joint Winner – Lane Cove Council (NSW)
Lane Cove Community Men’s Shed
The Lane Cove Community Men’s Shed was set up with the aim of enhancing the well-being, health and quality of life of older men by providing them with activities to do with people who have common interests. The shed operates on a peer-support model, where men with more ability will help others to learn handicraft skills. Other councils and community organisations have shown an interest in the shed as a solution to dealing with the growing problem of isolation and depression among men in the post-retirement age group.
Contact: Mr Peter Brown Lane Cove Municipal Council
Tel: (02)9911-3590
Fax: (02)9911-3600
Email: pbrown@lanecove.nsw.gov.au
Joint Winner – City of Prospect (SA)
Mental Health Project
Mental Health is an issue that effects the whole community. The City of Prospect employed a part-time Mental Health Project Officer to coordinate its project which aims to provide opportunities to develop and maintain community networks, to increase the sense of belonging to the community for those with mental health issues, and to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. In a 12 month period, 414 people took part in a wide range of programs for local residents, providing positive outcomes for the community.
Contact: Mr Kevin Sharp City of Prospect
Tel: (08)8344-5454
Fax: (08)8342-2171
Email: kevin@prospect.sa.gov.au
Rural Winner – Maclean Shire Council (NSW)
Integrated Aged Care Services for the Clarence Valley
Maclean Shire Council’s Community Services Project integrates Aged Care Packages, Community Options services and Meals on Wheels under Council auspices. Bringing these services together in one organisation reduces overheads, makes services equally available to urban and rural residents in the Clarence Valley and gives access to specialist Council services such as IT and document preparation. For the Valley community, the project ensures high-quality specialised aged care services are available locally while providing employment for more than 80 residents.
Contact: Ms Ashley Lindsay Maclean Shire Council
Tel: (02)6645-2266
Fax: (02)6645-3552
Email: alindsay@msc.nsw.com.au
Information Technology
Sponsored by Business Entry Point
Winner – City of Whittlesea (Vic)
Video Property Mapping: a New National Benchmark for Property Data Collection
The City of Whittlesea has implemented a video mapping system to provide higher quality, accurate property data at a fraction of the current cost. The technique uses advanced mobile video technology, a street sweeper and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to record and locate multiple video images of properties in the municipality. The data has led to more accurate property valuations and rate assessments and the system has been adapted for other time-consuming functions such as town planning assessment and street tree inspections.
Contact: Ms Tracy Willmott City of Whittlesea
Tel: (03)9217-2366
Fax:(03)9217-2399
Email: tzw@whittlesea.vic.gov.au
Organisational Practices
Sponsored by the Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services
Winner – City of Joondalup (WA)
Community Connections
Community Connections is a community-awareness and education initiative through which the City of Joondalup aims to unite communities by sharing resources and fostering respect for shared social, civic and environmental rights and responsibilities. The project’s objectives are to increase awareness of issues affecting community lifestyle, to foster knowledge of the role and functions of Local Government, and to promote awareness of shared rights and responsibilities.
Contact: Ms Kim Low City of Joondalup
Tel: (08)9400-4951
Fax: (08)9400-4950
Email: kim.low@joondalup.wa.gov.au
Rural Winner – Wellington Council (NSW)
Tractor/Mill Stabilising Unit
Wellington Council historically carried out heavy patching on roadways by replacing the failed section with select natural gravel at a heavy financial and environmental cost. The project team explored options and achieved the greatest possible utilisation of a plant item by purchasing a tractor/mill combination and stabilising the roadway in-situ. The solution proved so effective that Council reduced the cost of heavy patching by 50 per cent and has hired the machine to surrounding councils.
Contact: Mr Andrew Bruggy Wellington Shire
Tel: 02 6845 2099
Fax: 02 6845 3354
Email: mail@wellington.nsw.gov.au
Youth Services
Sponsored by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs
Winner – City of Adelaide (SA)
SPINACH – City of Adelaide Website for Young People
SPINACH is believed to be the first stand-alone youth website produced by any Local Government authority in Australia. Using the Internet, SPINACH is an innovative way of ensuring that a wide range of young people have input into Council decision-making. SPINACH has contributed to a greater participation by the young in decisions that effect them. New features are constantly being developed on this incredibly popular site, which receives around 5,000 hits a month.
Contact: Ms Mandy Smith Adelaide City Council
Tel: (08)8203-7713
Fax: (08)8203-7554
Email: m.smith@adelaide.sa.gov.au
Planning and Urban Design
Sponsored by the Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services
Winner – Banyule City Council (Vic)
Protecting and Enhancing Vegetation in an Urban Municipality
Vegetation in the urban municipality of Banyule is valued for its environmental and cultural significance. The municipality wanted to maintain focus on enhancing vegetation and not merely protecting it. Through the Banyule Planning Scheme, the council developed a comprehensive approach by encouraging the planting of appropriate vegetation and advising members of the community based on vegetation community mapping.
Contact: Ms Vivien Williamson Banyule City Council
Tel: (03)9457-9827
Fax: (03)9457-4690
Email: viven.williamson@banyule.vic.gov.au
Special Award for International Year of Volunteers
Sponsored by the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services
Winner – Mosman Municipal Council (NSW)
Mosman Volunteers
The objectives of the Council’s volunteer program are to ensure that its volunteers are supported, trained, recognised and valued as a community asset; to provide opportunities for roles that use a volunteer’s skills and talents and to promote volunteering as an enriching experience for all ages. Council’s management plan, MOSPLAN, has a range of strategies to ensure that policies and procedures to recruit, select, place, train, support and recognise volunteers are implemented consistently.
Contact: Ms Liz Nagel Mosman Municipal Council
Tel: (02)9978-4089
Fax: (02)9978-4137
Email: l.nagel@mosman.nsw.gov.au
Sustaining Local Communities – Local Agenda 21
Sponsored by Environment Australia
Winner – City of Onkaparinga (SA)
Strategic Indicators Project
The Strategic Indicators Project aims to promote sustainable communities by defining strategic directions or community-wide goals. A “sharing the journey” strategy involved a network of 32 participating councils and 17 other agencies sponsored by the City of Onkaparinga on behalf of South Australian councils. It aimed to provide policy and decision-makers with information on monitoring trends associated with strategic directions for a locality or region. The results are improved reporting, which enables communities to align projects with larger objectives, and to strengthen links between long-term goals and operational planning, services and programmes.
Contact: Ms Lisa Florian City of Onkaparinga
Tel: (08)8384-0562
Fax: (08)8384-0713
Email: lisflo@onkaparinga.sa.gov.au
Rural Winner – Coorong District Council (SA)
Environmental Management in the Coorong District Council Area
Coorong District Council has been one of the first councils in Australia to fully incorporate the environment into its Strategic and Development Plans. Land degradation and dryland salinity severely affect rural communities as well as council assets such as public buildings and roads. Under a Local Action Plan that addresses land degradation and salinity being carried out and backed by the Federal Government’s Natural Heritage Trust funding, some 50,000 hectares of works have been completed in the first five years and more than two-thirds of landholders are now active in the programme. The council has also been a pioneer in developing inland aquaculture using saline goundwater.
Contact: Mr Graham Gates Coorong District Council
Tel: (08) 8575-1008
Fax: (08) 8575-1516
Email: ggates@coorong.sa.gov.au
Special Award for Strengthening Rural/Remote Communities
Sponsored by the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services
National Rural Winner, Overall and Rural Category Winner – Coorong District Council (SA)
Coorong Communication Project
