The LGPro Awards for Excellence were presented at a gala dinner at Melbourne Park Function Centre on 20 February. The winners are listed below.
Innovative Management Initiative Award
Allan Bawden, Jenny Churchill and Glenda McMillan from Bass Coast Shire Council won this award for the Council’s Risk Management Program for its local committees of management. The program ensures volunteer run community facilities in Bass Shire are safe by training 19 local volunteer in risk management and public liability issues. By working with volunteers and tackling issues together, Council has provided high quality and safe facilities for the wider community. Volunteer management committees at Council owned and Crown land facilities are given hands on risk management training and a reference manual.
Service Delivery Initiative Award
Joy O’Donnell and Campaspe Shire Council’s Long Day Care Team won this award for their Food Safety Plan. Staff combined to develop a Food Safety Plan for the Shire’s three Long Day Care Centres. The Shire wide Food Safety Plan ensures consistency among all staff at the Council’s three Long Day Care Centres.
Special Projects Initiative Award
Colin Adams, Prinesh Harayan, Peter Capewell and Sheryl Barlow won this award for posting Wellington Shire Council meetings online. To overcome the tyranny of distance, this project team introduced webcasting of Council meetings using a digital camera and telephone line. Live footage of every Council meeting is sent into the homes and offices of ratepayers. A chat room session also allows those viewing the webcast to participate in Council’s decision making process at the end of each meeting.
Advocacy Initiative Award
Maroondah City Council’s Community Services Team and Public Affairs and Communication team won this award for their Home and Community Care advocacy campaign. The campaign sought to increase HACC services by raising issues in the community. The campaign explained issues simply and presented the human face of HACC services so residents could relate to the issue.
Young Achiever Award
Justin O’Meara, Acting Manager City Strategy at Knox City Council, won this award for outstanding achievements in economic development and urban planning. He also demonstrated outstanding leadership within the organisation and with local developers. Over the past two years Justin has project managed the development of the Scoresby–Rowville Employment Precinct Plan, which provides a strategic vision for an innovative ‘new economy’ concept in land use planning. Justin presented new ideas in a simple, clear manner to earn Council’s understanding and support. He gained the respect of key stakeholders, including developers, who are often difficult to impress. Since winning the award, Justin has turned 27 and been appointed Acting Manager Strategic Planning.
