Media Release
13 July 2012
Three Tasmanian Councils Recognised in
2012 Local Government Awards for Excellence
Three Tasmanian councils – Burnie City, Central Highlands and Meander Valley Councils have each received awards at the 2012 Local Government Awards for Excellence.
The awards were announced at the Local Government Association’s 100th Local Government Conference in Hobart today and presented by Local Government Minister, Hon Bryan Green.
Burnie City Council won the Delivering Excellence in Natural and Built Environments award for the Burnie Waterfront Rejuvenation, a seven-year project that has transformed the waterfront to provide the city with a valuable piece of community infrastructure that is attractive to visitors and locals alike.
Central Highlands Council’s Economic Development Plan won the Achieving Excellence through Innovation category. Through the plan, Council identified short, medium and long-term programs to make the Central Highlands a more attractive place to live, work, visit, invest and access. Importantly, Council has engaged with community, business and tourism representatives on the plan’s implementation.
The Delivering Excellence for our Communities category was presented to the Meander Valley Council for its STUDIO BE innovation, a community arts resource for sound, video, photographic and multimedia production. STUDIO BE was also a finalist in the Achieving Excellence in Innovation category.
LGAT President, Mayor Barry Easther, said the awards promoted outstanding achievement in Local Government.
“The Association believes it is important to recognise initiatives that have or are delivering a positive result for Tasmanian communities,” he said.
“The award winners, and in fact all the finalists that were recognised today at the conference, are demonstrating innovation and excellence in the communities they represent.
“It is very pleasing to see Local Government continuing to inspire leading management practice and improvement across a diverse range of areas.”
The 2012 Local Government Awards for excellence are proudly supported by MAV Insurance.
PROJECT SUMMARIES – AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE WINNERS
STUDIO BE – Meander Valley Council
Officially launched in October 2009, STUDIO BE is a community arts resource for sound, video, photographic and multimedia production facilitated by Meander Valley Council. As the owner of the facility, Council has provided building maintenance and grant support. It has also assisted with strategic planning, external funding applications and aspects of event management, and an elected councillor played a pivotal championing role. An example of STUDIO BE’s work is the recent coordination of a Council consultation exercise called ‘Sofa So Good’ that involved taking a brightly decorated sofa around the community and inviting residents to be filmed while sitting on it, chatting about what makes a good life in the municipality. STUDIO BE now operates sustainably though an affordable fee structure.
Burnie Waterfront Rejuvenation, BurnieCity Council
The Burnie Waterfront Project – incorporating the waterfront, coastal pathways, boardwalk and West Park development – has been the culmination of Burnie’s transformation. Burnie is situated on the edge of the north-west coastline and was once dubbed the “…dirtiest town in Australia.” The revitalisation of the waterfront in Burnie has embraced the natural beauty of the Tasmanian north-west coastline and focuses attention on the next chapter in the city’s history now that the paper mill has closed its doors – a clean and attractive town that celebrates its strong industrial past. The waterfront was officially opened in February this year by the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Simon Crean. MrCrean spoke highly of Burnie as a successful example of a regional community active in developing local solutions and reinventing itself.
Economic Development Plan, Central Highlands Council
Given the Central Highlands Municipality’s geography, expanse, population size and low rate base, the council needs to be innovative in the delivery of services. Through the development of an Economic Development Plan, council has worked to achieve this through engagement with the community, with business and with tourism operators. An exhibit at Agfest 2012 reinforced to patrons (more than 61,000 people visited Agfest in 2012) that the Central Highlands was an attractive place to live, work, visit, invest in and access. Twenty three official volunteers representing the council, community, business and tourism manned the site. Council intends to expand its presence in 2013 and has already been approached by other local businesses and community groups keen to participate.
To arrange interviews or photographs, please contact
Nicolas Turner, Tel: 0418 538 865