Blue Mountains City Council has been shortlisted in two key award categories in the Local Government Excellence Awards.
The annual awards are presented by Local Government Professionals NSW to recognise significant achievements of councils, councillors and individual local government employees.
In the Environmental Leadership category, Council’s Blue Mountains Community Towards Net Zero Plan 2024 – 2033 has been selected as a finalist.
Also chosen as a finalist in the category of Innovative Leadership, is Council’s Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre Disaster Risk Reduction Project: Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health.
Blue Mountains Mayor, Mark Greenhill said: “Once again Council has been recognised for outstanding work towards our vision of achieving a more sustainable Blue Mountains.
“These are significant and highly competitive awards, recognising the achievements, talent and leadership of our teams among other local governments.
“I congratulate all the Council staff and take the opportunity to reaffirm Council’s ongoing commitment to our Net Zero Plan and towards local action that restores planetary health.”
Council’s Community Towards Net Zero Plan maps out a clear pathway for the Blue Mountains to transition towards a net zero emissions community. It identifies concrete actions for everyone to reduce emissions, including Council, businesses, community groups, schools, households and individuals.
Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre’s Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health demonstrated how local governments can work with all sectors of the community to reduce the risk of future disasters. It created local news sites in every neighbourhood from the Lower Mountains to Lithgow to improve communications and social connections; delivered a program of over 60 learning activities; and built a water demonstration site at the Centre.
“Both projects are wonderful examples of how local government can lead the way for a cleaner, healthier future for our environment and our entire community,” Mayor Greenhill said.
“And they align with Council’s key objectives to help our community be prepared for natural disasters with all levels of governments and residents working together to protect our Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.”
The Winners and Highly Commended in each category will be announced at a Local Government Awards event in Sydney on 5 June.
Find out more at: bmcc.nsw.gov.au/documents/community-towards-net-zero-plan-2024-2033.
