Tamworth Regional Council has been presented with the highest award for local government in NSW at a special ceremony in Tamworth.
The three trustees for the A R Bluett Memorial Award came to Tamworth to make the official presentation of the Bluett award plaque at a civic ceremony at the Community Centre in Darling St on December 9.
Tamworth Regional Council was named the winner of the most prestigious local government award in NSW at the Local Government Conference held in Tamworth in October. It was named the winner from 15 other local government bodies. The Bluett award goes to the council having shown the greatest relative progress of any council for the previous year.
The chairman of the A R Bluett Memorial Award Trust, John Flannery, and his fellow trustees John Dawson and Ed Carolan presented the plaque to mayor James Treloar.
In their judgement, the trustees said Tamworth had made significant progress in connecting with its community, successfully amalgamating five rural council areas, building impressive regional facilities such as the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre and the new Capitol Theatre.
They described the council’s 2008-2009 achievements and success as being underpinned by a “very strong executive and management leadership team, with an excellent ethic towards corporate governance and administrative efficiency.”
In its submission to the Bluett, TRC described the year 2008/2009 as a spectacular one and a high water mark in the history of the council region from the point of view of works on-ground, of projects and programs undertaken, but also in community involvement and expectations, and in social and cultural achievement.
The year had also seen significant technical and planning processes and preparation put into place for strategic development.
It had finished the year with a strong and substantial report card that showed outstanding progress and some stunning achievements from its budget and financial planning.
The TRC achievements were outlined in a 33-page submission paper which also included supplementary financial statements and quarterly review.
The official Bluett awards presentation also included a short civic tour by the trustees. As part of the nomination process in early September, the judges undertook a one hour city tour and also guided senior staff and the mayor and general manager through a one hour Q & A examination of the council’s achievements and philosophies.