In conjunction with the Sydney Morning Herald, the Local Government Managers Australia – New South Wales division announced its 2007 Local Government Management Excellence Awards in September. The awards aim to inspire Councils and communities to make a genuine and lasting contribution to their areas and Local Government. They were presented at the 2007 Annual Conference of the LGMA in Sydney on 27 September.
This year, a total of five gold awards were presented.
Penrith City took out two of the prestigious awards, in both the Management Excellence and Aspiring Young Manger of the Year categories. The Management Excellence Award was for Council’s four year Human Resource Strategy. This strategy provides a strategic framework for staff planning and decision making to better manage Council’s employment mix, staff demographics and employment costs.
Penrith’s Financial Accountant, Andrew Moore, received the Aspiring Young Manager Award. Andrew started his Local Government career as Council’s Expenditure Officer in April 2002. He was appointed Financial Accountant in 2006.
Kempsey Shire Council took out Management Excellence – Rural Category, for its Human Resources – Workforce Planning initiative. Introduced in 2005, this strategy has revitalised Council’s approach to workforce planning and ensured Council is capable of delivering community and organisational objectives now and in the future.
Blue Mountains City Council’s Business Advantage Program took out the Excellence in Sustainability within Local Government category. The triple bottom line program provides businesses in the City with accreditation in sustainable business practices. Businesses that gain accreditation become entitled to use the Blue Mountains brand. The program and the brand promote the Blue Mountains as a premier world heritage destination, committed to becoming environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.
The Gold Award for Service to Community within Local Government went to Great Lakes Council for its Parks and Recreation Volunteer Program Safety Management Practices. The purpose designed program was developed to create a safe working environment for Great Lakes Council volunteers. The Safety Management Practices are site specific, easy to read and usable by Council and its volunteers to ensure all participants are issued with up to date safety management practices to undertake works.
For further information and projects receiving merit awards visit www.lgmansw.com.au.
