“Blacktown City Council has never won so many awards in such a short period of time," Blacktown Mayor, Stephen Bali said.
“It shows how much of a change the council has made in the way it operates. We have a long tradition of winning awards, but these last six months has seen a virtual avalanche.
“The one that I am probably the proudest of is the 2016 NSW/ACT Parks and Leisure Australia Award of Excellence that was won by Mount Druitt Swimming Centre.
“At one stage the plan was to close the Centre, yet within a couple of years it has become an award winning recreational centre for the entire community.
“Even in winter it is popular, with the family fish-in drawing once again booked to capacity,” he said.
Blacktown City Council’s award for the way it planned recreational spaces in the north west growth was another outstanding achievement, he said.
The Council also won awards for its 2015 Annual Report, Community Report and Community Calendar, the White Ribbon accreditation campaign, the restoration of Melrose House and the innovative way its storm water planning led to better use of water that would otherwise run down drains, Mayor Bali said.
The complete list of awards:
• RH Dougherty Award for the 2015 Sustainable September Eco Festival.
• Urban Design Institute’s Excellence in Government Leadership award for Blacktown City Council’s portfolio of Community Hubs won.
• Mount Druitt Swimming Centre won the 2016 NSW/ACT Parks and Leisure Australia Award of Excellence for ‘Inclusive and Connected Communities’.
• The state Parks and Leisure Awards of Excellence, for its approach to planning the open spaces being created in the North West (and now in contention for a national award).
• Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope was awarded the AH Pierce 2016 Facility of the Year at the Aquatic and Recreation Institute Awards. Mount Druitt Swimming Centre was also named as a finalist.
• Blacktown City’s Stormwater Education Program won the Stormwater NSW Excellence Award in the Excellence in Policy or Education category for its project titled Expanding the Reach of Stormwater Education in Blacktown City.
• NSW Local Govt Excellence Award (Special Project Initiative) for the White Ribbon accreditation project.
• RH Dougherty Award (Highly Commended) in the Excellence in Communication category for its White Ribbon accreditation campaign
• RH Dougherty Award (Highly Commended) Reporting to your Community category for the “Sporting City” themed 2015 Annual Report, Community Report and Community Calendar.
• The Conservation Commendation for Heritage Architects from the Australian Institute of Architects (Restoration of Melrose House).
• Commendation award from the Australian Property Institute (Restoration of Melrose House).
• Blacktown City Council’s 2015 annual report was awarded a bronze award at the Australasian Reporting Awards in June 2016.
• Peel Reserve at The Ponds was awarded a high commendation in the Playspace: Major (>$0.5m) category at the 2016 Parks and Leisure Australia (NSW/ACT) Awards of Excellence.
