Tenterfield Shire Council has received the prestigious A.R.Bluett Memorial Award for the outstanding delivery of services to residents and ratepayers. The Award has been presented to members of the Shires Association of NSW each year since 1945.
It is awarded retrospectively for outstanding achievement in the previous year and is recognised as the greatest accolade a NSW Council can receive. The Tenterfield Award for achievements in the 2001–2002 year will be presented at a special ceremony on 22 November.
Council was commended for the following projects.
- The $3.4 million Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts Restoration and Conservation Project.
- The Tenterfield Centenary of Federation Community Celebrations.
- An extensive community facilities improvement program, including a library, community halls, swimming pool, cinema and theatre.
- Construction of the Tenterfield Gateway Visitor Information Centre.
- Achieving European Union accreditation for the Tenterfield Saleyards.
- Delivery of Council’s ‘greatest ever’ roads program.
Mayor Lucy Sullivan was at the Shires Association of NSW Conference in June when the Award was announced.
“To be a recipient of the A.R. Bluett Memorial Award is a great honour and one which will be shared by Council, its staff and especially the Tenterfield Shire community,” Councillor Sullivan said. “Although the Award was made to Council it belongs to the whole community.”
General Manager, Mark Arnold, said 2001–02 was an important year because many projects were realised from the efforts and hard work of a lot of people.
“Council participated in several regional cooperative ventures, developed a progressive tourism and marketing strategy, prepared a health service plan for the area and completed an economic development plan for the Shire,” he said. “Council attracted external funding for many major projects and made a substantial financial contribution from its own resources.
“We completed a large program of public works, including improvements to community assets, water supply services and a major road and bridge construction program. We also completed a comprehensive waste management strategy after undertaking community consultations. Council has a relatively small revenue and population base and was commended for its resourcefulness, sound financial position and commitment to organisational improvements.”
