Pittwater and Tenterfield Councils are the winners of New South Wales’ most prestigious Council honour, the AR Bluett Memorial Award. Their award plaques will be presented at Blacktown on 28 July as part of Local Government Week 2003 celebrations. The AR Bluett Award has been in continuous operation since 1945 and each year recognises two Councils that have achieved the greatest relative progress in the State. One award is made available for members of the Local Government Association of NSW (LGA) and the other for members of the Shires Association of NSW.
Factors taken into account in the judging of this award include the relative performance and achievements of competing Councils, meaning all Councils have an opportunity to win.
LGA President Councillor Sara Murray said the awards are a great honour for the winning Councils and demonstrated real excellence.
“Pittwater Council won the LGA award this year, only 10 years after its establishment,” Councillor Murray said. “Outstanding features of the submission were the range of community facilities and services provided, the approach taken to dealing with local environmental challenges and the success of Council’s strategy of working closely with its community in all areas of service.”
Shires Association President, Councillor Phyllis Miller, was similarly impressed with Tenterfield Shire.
“Tenterfield Shire Council won the Shires Association award for achieving outstanding progress in delivery of Local Government services to its community,” she said. “Council completed an impressive array of projects associated with the Centenary of Federation, which will be of lasting benefit to the Tenterfield community.”
Other projects included restoration of the Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts; the new Library fit out; coordination of the Television Black Spots Program; construction of the Gateway Visitor Information Centre; EU Accreditation for the Saleyards; and Council’s Community Halls Initiative.
“The 2001/02 period was important to both Council and the community in which a number of projects came to reality as a result of the efforts and hard work of many people,” said Tenterfield’s Mayor, Councillor Lucy Sullivan. “Although the award was made to Council it belongs to the whole community.”
