National Awards for Local Government
Message from the Hon Mark Coulton, Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government
Local government is a trusted delivery partner of the Australian Government and has a critical role in delivering vital services and ensuring quality of life for Australian communities. It provides frontline services to citizens (water, airports, child and aged care) especially in regional and remote Australia. When people want action in their community, councils are often the first door they knock on.
This year 2020, is one of the most difficult years we will experience. We have already faced drought, bushfires, flooding in some areas, and now a pandemic. The recovery effort will take not just months, but years. Innovation and dedication to delivering quality services to local communities around Australia has never been more important.
For the past 34 years, the annual National Awards for Local Government has showcased the best and the brightest projects being undertaken by local government, and demonstrates the innovative and new ways local governments are delivering for their residents.
The National Awards for Local Government recognise significant projects that add value to local government and their regions and provide tangible benefits to residents. They celebrate projects that demonstrate best practice, deliver better outcomes for communities, and have the potential to be rolled out across the country to make a meaningful difference.
We received some very high-quality entries which are a reflection of the level of service our local governments provide to all Australians. I am thankful to the judges for dedicating their time and effort in reviewing the applications and coming to a decision in what must have been a difficult choice.
I would like to congratulate the winners for their stand-out ideas and innovation across a broad range of important responsibilities. They each deserve congratulations, celebration and recognition beyond their local community, which they receive through the National Awards for Local Government.
However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic we are facing the reality that some of these award winning projects will be delayed due to the impact of the pandemic while their councils focus on COVID-19 recovery projects to get their communities back on their feet.
To each winner, each local government, each Australian community, my sincere thanks for your hard work, your ongoing enthusiasm for advancement and your leadership, particularly this year.
2020 Top tier Awards Announced
The Minister for Local Government, the Hon Mark Coulton MP, announced the top tier awards of the 2020 National Awards for Local Government on 17 November 2020 at the ALGA Special Recovery Conference.
The 2020 winners are listed below.
The 2020 National Award for Local Government Excellence
Winner: City of Mandurah, WA
The 2020 National Award for Local Government Excellence—Highly Commended
Winner: City of Greater Dandenong, VIC
Project: Youth United Against Family Violence
Winner: City of Busselton, WA
Project: Busselton Margaret River Airport Development Project
2020 Minister's Award for Progressive Community Leadership
Winner: Shire of Manjimup, WA
Project: Manjimup Transformed—Aspirational Leadership
2020 Category Award Winners
The Hon Mark Coulton, MP, Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government announced the winners of the 2020 National Awards for Local Government on 24 July 2020.
The full details of the winners' projects can be found below.
About the Awards
The National Awards for Local Government are an annual celebration of the best Australian local government achievements. The Awards highlight innovative and resourceful solutions implemented by local governments to make a difference to their local communities.
Administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, and selected by independent expert panels, the National Awards for Local Government promote the significant role of the local government sector in delivering targeted quality services to Australians in urban and regional communities. Through the promotion of excellence in service delivery, the National Awards for Local Government showcase community solutions that directly respond to community need, overcome barriers and feature new, advanced and creative thinking. There are nine award categories that demonstrate how the best of local government is delivering for its communities. These categories reflect the kind of community outcomes that are creating stronger, resilient and cohesive communities.
2020 Category Winners
- Arts Animates – creating vibrant and cohesive communities through the Arts DOCX: 309 KB
Winner: City of Wanneroo, WA
Project: DJ Course: Increasing local economic opportunity and inclusion
- Boosting Productivity through Infrastructure DOCX: 310 KB
Winner: City of Busselton, WA
Project: Busselton Margaret River Airport Development Project
- Contributing to Regional Growth DOCX: 310 KB
Winner: City of Mandurah, WA
- Disability Access and Inclusion DOCX: 309 KB
Winner: City of Sydney, NSW
Project: Inclusive and Accessible Public Domain Policy and Guidelines
- Excellence in Road Safety DOCX: 310 KB
Winner: Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, NSW
- Multicultural Australia – Cohesive Communities DOCX: 310 KB
Winner: Sunshine Coast Regional Council, QLD
Project: Migrant Work Ready—Pathways to Belonging and Employment
- Addressing Violence Against Women and their Children DOCX: 312 KB
Winner: City of Greater Dandenong, VIC
Project: Youth United Against Family Violence
- Promoting Indigenous Recognition DOCX: 310 KB
Winner: Glenelg Shire Council, VIC
Project: Glenelg Aboriginal Partnership National Reconciliation Week
- The Susan Grace Benny Award DOCX: 310 KB
Winner: Brimbank City Council, VIC
Project: Women's Leadership Programs
Further Information
Monitor this website for information about the upcoming application process for the 2021 National Awards for Local Government and key dates.
If you require any additional information, please email awards@infrastructure.gov.au.