Bellingen mayor Dominic King said the awards - which have been running since 1945 - celebrate examples of exceptional achievement by progressive rural and regional/metropolitan councils who encourage and foster innovation and continuous improvement.

"These awards are recognised as the pinnacle of local government achievement and I find it rewarding and exciting that our winning submission was selected amongst a competitive state-wide field of regional councils," Cr King said.

"As the custodian of our Community Vision, council has collaborated with our community to create a shared vision on how to sustainably manage growth in our shire, maintain its natural beauty and uniqueness and remain a sustainable, inclusive, and connected community."

Cr King said Bellingen Shire Council's award submission examined the opportunities and challenges identified in the Community Vision.

"The work of the council through initiatives such as values based social research undertaken recently entitled Why local government matters, has allowed council to understand what really matters to our community.

"Noting that our characteristics are our challenges, this year in particular has seen the culmination of outcomes around numerous initiatives built on a solid platform of progressive reform, delivering upon community aspiration and identified organisational imperatives to position it effectively as a sustainable organisation."

A snapshot includes:

. The commissioning of an independent review of council's finances which declared "It is our conclusion that council's long-term financial sustainability is tracking well. In particular, the improving technical efficiency, low levels of debt, prudent spending, and the steady improvement in asset condition all indicate that council is doing an extraordinarily successful job in challenging conditions. The future looks bright for the residents of Bellingen Shire council and they can have the utmost faith in the stewardship of council".

. Securing council and grant funding to deliver community infrastructure projects valued at $11 million

. Securing council and grant funding to deliver a $20 million investment in wastewater infrastructure

. Major investment in water security infrastructure

. Ongoing focus on sustainable development through the Homes for our Future project

. Investment in renewables to mitigate utility risk/cost and reduce emissions

. Development of a biodiversity strategy and declaration of a climate emergency

. Implementation of major investment in essential infrastructure including a long term $29 million bridge replacement program

. Strategic asset management planning activities, including the resurfacing of an additional 13 kilometres of poor condition sealed roads, the reconstruction of 2.2 kilometres of road that was in too poor a condition to reseal, and the grading of 66 kilometres of the unsealed road network

. Ongoing investment in community wellbeing through the Youth Hub

. Active leadership in the Mid North Coast Joint Organisation

. Development and resourcing of a deliberative approach to engagement.

"There is no doubt that the last 12 months and drought, bushfires, floods and the current pandemic crisis have certainly challenged us all and re-focussed our efforts to deal with the environmental, social and economic challenges our shire faces now and into the future," Cr King said.

"As a finalist in the Bluett Award program we hosted a visit by AR Bluett Trust chairman, Les McMahon and fellow trustee judges Mike Montgomery AM and Genia McCaffrey who conducted an inspection of our shire, received presentations on our operations and services and had the opportunity to hear from some of our community members and partner organisations on the great work achieved within our community.

"The Bluett Trustee's visit was a great opportunity for council's team and our community alike to showcase achievements. As a community we have demonstrated what is possible when you harness the talent and skill of a small and committed team that are dedicated to working with our community to discover our shire's true potential."

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