October 26, 2009
Congratulations!
Tamworth Regional Council has won the state’s highest local government award for its achievements over the past year.
The council was named the winner of the A R Bluett Memorial Award at Sunday night’s opening and welcome ceremony of the 2009 Local Government Association’s state conference in Tamworth.
The chairman of the A R Bluett Memorial Award Trust, John Flannery PSM, announced the award in front of some 500 council delegates.
Mr Flannery said Tamworth had won out over some 15 entries in this year’s Local Government Association section of the award which recognizes the council that has made the greatest relative progress in that year. It is considered to be the highest accolade for local government in NSW. The Shires Association section of the award went to Temora Shire Council.
The trustees said TRC 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.
TRC general manager Glenn Inglis says the Bluett significantly also 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.”
Mr Inglis said that that acknowledgement was particularly pleasing to the executive team and staff who were working to improve and enhance operational and management systems and outcomes.
The LGA conference has seen 636 delegates and visitors arrive in the city, for the start of three days of working sessions at TRECC from Monday and enjoying a special Tamworth experience.
The mayor James Treloar has paid tribute to council staff and the community for the Bluett award.
He says it is more than just a reward for the hard work and dedication shown by the staff, management and councillors of TRC. It is an award for the community whose residents work to make it the place it is and an even greater place for the future.
Councillor Treloar says the Bluett is also recognition of the partnerships TRC has formed with its community.
The year 2008-2009 was the culmination of a lot of projects and programs, policies and systems, coming together after the 2004 amalgamation, Mr Inglis said.
“The Bluett was not just about building things, it is also about connecting with the community. Those connections have enabled the council to do much more. The relationships we have forged have seen considerable achievements.”
The trustees of the A R Bluett Memorial Award noted that TRC’s achievements included:
- the finalization and opening of the $30m Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre
- the completion and opening of the $1.65m Capitol Theatre project
- the completion of the $8m Taminda levee, ensuring flood proofing of the industrial precinct
- the outstanding achievement of winning the overall national Tidy Towns award
the finalization of the $30m waste services management contract
- the further advancement of the $80m Westdale sewerage augmentation scheme, with the associated development of a 1,500megalitre dam to service a council-operated effluent recycling farm
- the completion of the draft Regional Local Environment Plan, successfully incorporating five totally different LEP’s into one consolidated plan
- the development of a cultural plan, incorporating each of the smaller rural towns
- the Tamworth Regional Development strategy to address the economic and social sustainability of the smaller towns and villages in the region
- the finalization of planning for an $8m indoor sports stadium, a $3m Riverside sports precinct, and master plans for the redevelopment of Fitzroy St and Bicentennial Park
In their presentation they said:
“The trustees were very impressed with the efforts made by the council and staff in planning and implementing the 2004 local government amalgamations in the Tamworth region. The merger with four smaller rural councils and the ongoing community consultation with the wider shire community has been a major challenge. Underpinning the council’s success is a very strong executive and management leadership team, with an excellent ethic towards corporate governance and administrative efficiency.
“The trustees congratulate Mayor James Treloar, general manager Glenn Inglis and the councilors and staff of Tamworth Regional Council on an outstanding achievement.’
Good on you Tamworth – more than just a city, more than just one place!