2025 National Awards for Local Government—Winners and Honourable Mentions

The outcomes of the 2025 National Awards for Local Government were announced on Thursday 26 June 2025 with the winners receiving their awards at a presentation which took place at the Australia Local Government Association National General Assembly Dinner in Canberra.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s Recognition

Winner: West Arnhem Regional Council | West Arnhem Youth Leadership Summit

Honourable Mention: City of Wanneroo | Creating visibility and recognition of Noongar culture through language

Addressing Violence Against Women and Children

Winner: City of Stirling | Naala Djookan Healing Centre

Honourable Mention: Burwood Council | Burwood Domestic Violence Hub - Transforming domestic violence support

Affordable Housing (new for 2025)

Winner: Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council | Palm Island Housing Investment Scheme

Honourable Mention: Brighton Council | South Brighton Development Precinct

Arts and Culture

Winner: City of Gosnells | 2024 Fusion Food and Culture Festival

Honourable Mention: Burwood Council | Burwood 150 Years Program - A celebration of arts, culture and heritage

Cohesive Communities

Winner: City of Stirling | Walking Together Local Convos

Honourable Mention: City of Greater Dandenong | Springvale Snow Festival 2024

Disaster Readiness and Recovery

Winner: City of Wanneroo | Mariginiup Bushfire - From preparedness to recovery, a community-first approach

Honourable Mention: Shire of York | Reintroducing traditional Aboriginal mosaic cultural burning to Ballardong Country

Environmental Sustainability

Winner: Town of Victoria Park | Bird Waterers - Cockitroughs

Honourable Mention: City of Mitcham | Mitcham Community Energy

Outstanding Rural and Remote Council (new for 2025)

Winner: Parkes Shire Council | Fleet Optimisation and Innovation - A smarter approach to asset management

Honourable Mention: Shire of York | Reintroducing traditional Aboriginal mosaic cultural burning to Ballardong Country

Honourable Mention: Wentworth Shire Council | Wentworth Visitor Centre

Productivity Through Infrastructure

Winner: City of Stirling | Hamersley Public Golf Course Redevelopment

Honourable Mention: City of Palmerston | SWELL - Swimming, Wellness, Events, Leisure and Lifestyle

Regional Growth

Winner: Shire of Murray | The Exchange Hotel, Pinjarra

Honourable Mention: Lithgow City Council | LEEP - Lithgow Emerging Economy Plan – Leading practice transitions management

Road Safety

Winner: Blacktown City Council | Risks of NOT planting trees along our streets

Honourable Mention: City of Vincent | 40km/h Local Residential Road Zone Project

Women in Local Government

Winner: City of Wanneroo | Kirsten Thrush & Katie Russell -Leading the disaster recovery from Mariginiup Bushfire

Honourable Mention: City of Burnside | Christine Baillie - 25 years of volunteering and still going strong

Workforce and Skills

Winner: Burwood Council | Breaking Barriers - Growing the Learn to Swim workforce

Honourable Mention: City of Swan | City of Swan Graduate Engineer Program