Parkes Shire Council has been named the Outstanding Rural and Remote Council at the 2025 National Awards for Local Government, in recognition of its innovative approach to fleet optimisation and asset management.
The award, presented at the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly Dinner in Canberra on Thursday 26 June 2025, acknowledges Parkes Shire Council's "Fleet Optimisation and Innovation - A Smarter Approach to Asset Management" project. This is the first time this award category has been included in the national program.
Parkes Shire Council was selected from a competitive field of 54 projects submitted for the Outstanding Rural and Remote Council category. Honourable mentions were awarded to the Shire of York (WA) and Wentworth Shire Council (NSW).
Michael O'Shannessy, Council's Fleet and Depot Manager, said the award reflects several years of commitment to transforming fleet operations to better serve the organisation and community.
"We're incredibly proud to be recognised on a national stage. This project has reshaped how we manage and maintain Council's fleet - improving safety, efficiency, and transparency," Mr O'Shannessy said.
"By building our own system in-house, we've not only saved costs but also created a smart, scalable solution tailored to our needs and future growth."
Parkes Shire Council developed its own advanced fleet management system using TechnologyOne, integrating real-time data, predictive maintenance strategies, and GPS telematics. The system provides full oversight of Council's $18 million fleet and is designed to ensure cost-effective lifecycle management of all fleet assets, from heavy plant to small equipment.
The innovation has resulted in a shift from reactive to scheduled maintenance, improved asset availability, reduced emissions, and enhanced worker safety. Notably, Council avoided the cost of third-party software by building the system in-house, redirecting savings into further safety improvements.
Independent auditors have also recognised the significance of the transformation. Paul Quealey, Partner at Lambourne Partners, said:
"We [Lambourne Partners] were engaged to do the internal audit for the Plant and Fleet Management at Parkes, which identified that the systems implemented over the last three to four years are one of the superior councils in terms of the offerings with their work health safety management, scheduled maintenance, forward projections and use of technology."
"I think Parkes is at the forefront in terms of regional councils across NSW, and probably even far and more advanced than a lot of metropolitan and Sydney based councils as well."
"Parkes is driving improvements that are adding real value to the Council and driving, through technology, advances in risk technology when it comes to staff, machinery, and risk management around Work Health and Safety."
"The work that the team has done over the last three or four years should be commended. It was a pleasure to come in and see exactly how they do things and the outcomes they're driving, not only for the community but for the council as a whole."
Federal Minister for Regional Development and Local Government, Kristy McBain MP, congratulated this year's award recipients.
"This year saw the most submissions ever received in the history of these awards, showcasing the hard work of local governments in delivering targeted, quality services to their communities – even in the face of adversity like natural disasters.
"I'd like to congratulate the category winners, and all the applicants, for this year's local government awards.
"Your projects and the enormous efforts behind them are having real and positive impacts for communities, bringing them together and elevating local amenity."
The 2025 awards attracted more than 160 entries from councils across Australia, with only 11 category winners selected by an independent panel.
Parkes Shire Council's fleet innovation has also set a new benchmark for small and regional councils, offering a scalable and strategic model for managing complex asset portfolios in remote locations.
