Upper Hunter Shire Council and Sutherland Shire Council have taken out the 2009/2010 A.R. Bluett Memorial Award.
Awarded each year to two councils that have achieved the greatest relative progress in the State, the Award has been operational since 1945 and is recognised as the greatest accolade a New South Wales council can achieve.
Chairperson of the A.R. Bluett Memorial Trust, John Flannery announced the 2009/2010 Awards at the Local Government Association Conference in Albury on 24 October.
Covering 8,000 square kilometres, the Shires Association winner, Upper Hunter Shire Council is located in the Hunter Valley Region and has a 13,785 residents. Since it was formed in 2005, it has adopted a very progressive approach to building community facilities and dealing with the challenges of responding to growth needs and development pressures.
John Flannery said Council impressed the Trustees with the way it has responded to the need for medical services in all towns in the Shire, the extensive works and roads program, and provision of new sporting and town centre facilities.
Major projects completed by Council include a new Administration and Emergency Operations Centre, improvements to the Scone, Murrurundi and Merriwa Medical Centres, and acquisition of the Scone Early Learning Centre.
The Trustees also presented a Highly Commended Award this year to Cabonne Council, located in Central Western New South Wales. Cabonne impressed the Trustees with the way they deliver all essential services to the whole Council area and its 11 towns and villages.
Council completed the $3.6 million Waluwin Community Centre in Molong, Australia’s first integrated primary health and community care facility.
Sutherland Shire Council was the worthy winner of the Local Government Association section of the Bluett Award this year. With a population of 220,000 people, Sutherland is one of the largest councils in New South Wales and provides an extremely high standard of services and facilities.
Council has developed a comprehensive Anti Social Behaviour Strategy, implemented an excellent Aging Well Strategy, and finalised a Voluntary Planning Agreement with developers which will see over 91 hectares on Kurnell Peninsular handed over for community open space and ten sports fields.
John Flannery said Sutherland has also completed over $70 million worth of community building projects, including the Cronulla Central library, community halls, commercial offices and carpark complex, the Engadine Community Centre and Lucas Heights Regional Sports Facilities.
Sixteen councils had competed for the Bluett Award this year and John Flannery said the Trustees were very impressed with the high standard of entries received.
