Tunnels, buildings and a community development were among the winners at the 2005 Local Government Professionals Awards for Excellence announced last month.
Hobsons Bay Greenlight Project Team was awarded for the Australia’s first full integrated online permit management system specifically designed and developed by and for Local Government planning departments.
The Walker Close Community Centre Development Team also at Hobsons Bay City Council won the Innovative Management Initiative. The new $2.5 million community hub at Walker Close in Altona North is the culmination of six years of multidisciplinary planning and teamwork. It has attracted 180 new residential care beds to the City at no cost to the ratepayer by developing unused Council land.
The Special Projects Initiative was won by the Council House 2 (CH2) team entered by City of Melbourne. CH2 is a visionary new building with the potential to change forever the way Australia indeed the world, approaches ecologically sustainable design.
The Two Tunnels Project Team at Whitehorse City Council won the Advocacy Initiative. This campaign focused on a major campaign to attract Government, industry and community support to construct two tunnels along Springvale Road underneath Whitehorse Road and the Nunawading railway line – a major traffic bottleneck.
Aside the section winners, Technical Officer – Environment & Buildings from the Rural City of Wangaratta, Cathy Harnetty, won the Young Achiever Award. Cathy said she was surprised to win the award, as it was totally unexpected.
She initially joined the Rural City of Wangaratta in a temporary position as a Rates Projects Officer. When this finished, she applied for and was selected as a casual administrative assistant, as part of a pool of casual staff. After a few moves in the organisation, she now coordinates trade contractors engaged on substantial Council and community projects, including the refurbishment and extension of the co joined government and Local Government offices at Wangaratta.
