14-08-2026
Upper Lachlan Shire Council has once again been recognised on the state stage, with two Council initiatives named as finalists in the prestigious Local Government NSW Awards during Local Government Week 2026.
At the awards ceremony in Sydney on Thursday, 6 August, the Upper Lachlan Arts and Heritage Trail was named a finalist in the RH Dougherty Awards – Excellence in Communication (Division A: Population under 30,000), while Council’s Planning Together initiative was recognised as a finalist in the Local Government NSW Planning Awards.
While Council did not secure the top award in either category, Chief Executive Officer Ms Alex Waldron said achieving finalist recognition against strong competition from councils across NSW was an outstanding achievement.
“I am incredibly proud of our staff. Being recognised in two state awards demonstrates the quality, innovation and professionalism of the work being delivered across our organisation,” Ms Waldron said.
“Local government continues to face significant financial, workforce and service delivery pressures, particularly in regional areas. Despite these challenges, our staff continue to innovate, improve the way we work and deliver high-quality outcomes for our community.”
Council encourages staff to nominate outstanding projects for industry awards as part of its broader employee reward and recognition program. Ms Waldron said external recognition also supported Council’s efforts to attract and retain skilled employees.
“Attracting qualified professionals to regional areas can be challenging, particularly in specialist and hard-to-recruit roles. Recognition such as this helps demonstrate that Upper Lachlan Shire Council is an employer of choice, where talented people can undertake meaningful work, innovate and be part of a culture of high achievement.”
The Upper Lachlan Arts and Heritage Trail celebrates the history, culture and stories of the Shire, encouraging residents and visitors to explore and connect with the region’s unique heritage.
Council’s Planning Together initiative has transformed the delivery of planning services through earlier intervention and greater collaboration with applicants and industry professionals. The initiative has contributed to significant improvements in performance, reducing cumulative lodgement timeframes from 38 to 12 days and cumulative assessment timeframes from 271 to 67 days, while strengthening relationships with applicants and improving the customer experience.
Ms Waldron said the two finalist nominations demonstrated what a small rural council could achieve through innovation, collaboration and a commitment to continuous improvement.
“These awards are ultimately recognition of our people. Our staff work incredibly hard, often with fewer resources than larger organisations, and they should be proud to see their work recognised alongside some of the best in local government across NSW.”
Council congratulates all finalists and award recipients recognised during Local Government Week 2026 and thanks its staff, community members and project partners whose commitment and collaboration continue to deliver positive outcomes for the Upper Lachlan Shire.
Coordinator Tourism and Economic Development, Kathleen Bowerman. Chief Executive Officer, Alex Waldron and Manager Planning and Regulatory Services, Hugh Waters