MEDIA RELEASE The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government 26 May 2009 AA292/2009

2009 NATIONAL AWARDS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT - CATEGORY WINNERS ANNOUNCED Twenty one council and shire projects have been selected as Category Winners in the 2009 National Awards for Local Government, which were announced today. Independent judging panels selected the winners across 11 award categories. The 2009 Category Award winners came from every state in the Commonwealth, and included urban, regional, rural and remote councils. The theme for this year's Awards is 'Local Government - Building Australian Communities'. The 2009 Awards were open to all elected councils and shires around Australia. The National Awards have been held annually since 1986 and are intended to highlight innovation in delivering infrastructure and services to local communities. This year's Award categories encouraged innovation in infrastructure, health, natural resource development, environmental sustainability, Indigenous engagement and collaborative service delivery. Since 1986, the Awards have helped councils to share good practice in order to find local solutions for community challenges. Overall, 233 entries were received from local councils, making this year one of the more competitive awards in recent times. These Category Winners will now go on to the national judging round to determine the overall National Winners. National Winners will be announced at the Australian Council of Local Government meeting in June 2009. Information about the National Awards for Local Government and Category Winners can be found at www.infrastructure.gov.au/local/awards Media Contacts Moksha Watts ( Mr Alabanese's Office ) 0413 389 070 2009 NATIONAL AWARDS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT CATEGORY WINNERS   CATEGORY - Managing Community Assets Winner:  City of Salisbury, SA - Brahma Green Affordable Housing Project Small Council Winner (under 15,000 ratepayers):  Central Goldfields Shire Council, VIC - Maryborough Urban Prospects   CATEGORY - Improving Service Delivery through Collaborations Winner:  City of Wodonga, VIC - Sort and Save: A Community Recycling Project Small Council Winner:  Cabonne Council, Wellington Council and Blayney Shire Council, NSW - Collaboration in Action - the C.O.R.E. to Success   CATEGORY - Leading Community Greenhouse Actions Joint Winner:  City of Melbourne, VIC - Ecocity Melbourne Joint Winner:  Newcastle City Council, NSW - ClimateCam - International Test Laboratory Small Council Winner:  Towong Shire Council, VIC - Pure Towong Energy - Innovation in Triple Bottom Line Sustainability   CATEGORY - Women in Local Government Winner:  Penrith City Council, NSW - Women's Services Sector Advocacy Strategy   CATEGORY - Health and Wellbeing Winner:  City of Port Phillip, VIC - Health and Wellbeing Program Small Council Winner: Cobar Shire Council, NSW - Cobar Primary Health Care Centre   CATEGORY - Excellence in Alcohol Management Winner:  Adelaide City Council, SA - City of Adelaide - Safer Night-time Entertainment Precincts Project Small Council Winner:  Gunnedah Shire Council, NSW - Gunny Gets you Home   CATEGORY - Innovation in Natural Resource Management Winner:  Clarence City Council, TAS - Cambridge Sewerage Strategy Small Council Winner: Liverpool Plains Shire Council, NSW - Tr@cer Weeds Mobile Mapping   CATEGORY - Innovation in Community Engagement Winner:  City of Canada Bay Council, NSW - 'What would your mother say!' A retrospective of young women's fashion culture and identity Small Council Winner:  Central Highlands Regional Council, QLD - Regional Collaboration in doing business with Council   CATEGORY - Strength in Diversity Winner: Hume City Council, VIC - Passport to Work   CATEGORY - Strengthening Indigenous Communities Winner: City of Geraldton-Greenough, WA - Youth 'n' Motion Midnight Basketball Small Council Winner: Carpentaria Shire Council, QLD -Domestic Violence - It's not our game   CATEGORY - Youth Engagement Winner: City of Swan, WA - Hyper Series Small Council Winner:  Kwinana Town Council, WA - LyriK Youth Incentive Program   URL: http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/aa/releases/2009/May/aa292_2009.htm