Tweed Shire Council was officially presented with the A.R. Bluett Memorial Award at a ceremony in Murwillumbah late last week, in front of a crowd of business and community representatives and a large number of Council staff.
The prestigious award was presented to Tweed Mayor, Councillor Barry Longland and Council General Manager, Mike Rayner, by two of the Bluett Trustees and the Minister for Local Government and Minister for the North Coast, the Honourable Don Page MP.
Representing the Bluett Trust were the Chairman, John Flannery PSM, and Trustee, Councillor Bill Bott, who is a Corowa Shire Councillor and was representing the Local Government and Shires Association of NSW.
The A.R. Bluett Memorial Award is presented each year to the Council that, in the opinion of the Trustees, has made the greatest relative progress and is considered to be the highest accolade to which a Council can aspire.
Tweed’s Council was announced as the winner of the Shire’s Division of the award in late October, with Willoughby City Council winning the Local Government Association section for metropolitan and larger regional councils.
“Tweed Shire Council has displayed impressive community leadership while delivering major infrastructure projects and implementing a broad range of economic and environmental initiatives,” John Flannery said.
“The Council acknowledges it has emerged from a turbulent political past and the trustees were impressed with the Council’s commitment to delivering a wide range of programs while it balances growth with responsible strategic planning.”
Mr Page said the Tweed was “thoroughly deserving” of the award.
“In all the councils in the Shires Association, Tweed Shire Council was judged to be the best and that’s no mean feat,” Mr Page said.
Mr Page said Tweed Shire Council has set the benchmark for other councils in NSW to follow in its forward planning, sound management and excellent staff.
“Council’s General Manager Mike Rayner is retiring next year and should be acknowledged in the significant role he has played in winning this award for Tweed Shire Council,” Mr Page said.
An award citation from the trustees highlighted a number of Council’s achievements during 2010/11, including:
■ Bray Park Water Treatment Plant construction ($76 million fully funded by Council)
■ The Jack Evans Boat Harbour revitalisation project ($8 million funded by grants and S94 funds)
■ The “excellent” Tweed Link weekly newspaper and Council’s staff newsletters
■ Improved customer services, including SMS and smartphone applications and restructured customer service centre
■ Major refurbishments of Fingal Head Boat Harbour, Arkinstall Park Complex, Cabarita Beach streetscape and completion of Bray Park cycleway.
Tweed mayor Councillor Barry Longland, said the award was a wonderful recognition of the work Council staff was doing for the community.
“The fact that the Minister for Local Government came to Murwillumbah in order to present the award underscores the award’s significance,” Councillor Longland said.
“This is an accolade the whole community can take pride in, the fact that their Council has been honoured for the quality of its administration and management.
“The award also conveys an appreciation of the role of the elected members and their leadership,” he said.
Tweed Shire Council General Manager Mike Rayner said the award was fantastic news for the organisation.
“This is the highest award a NSW council can win and peer recognition is the ultimate accolade,” Mr Rayner said.
“It follows three prestigious RH Dougherty Awards in the past 15 months, for excellence in communication,” he said.
