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