Leeton Shire Council is delighted to announce it has been named 2025 rural recipient of the AR Bluett Memorial Award - NSW local government's highest honour, recognising Leeton's outstanding progress, innovation and community leadership.
Presented annually by Local Government NSW, the AR Bluett Award celebrates councils that deliver exceptional results for their communities through strong governance, creativity and long-term impact.
Leeton Shire Council received the rural category award alongside Camden Council, which was awarded the metropolitan honour.
Over 2024/25, Council delivered a wide range of achievements, including:
- Major placemaking and civic renewal, with the Chelmsford Town Square upgrade transforming Leeton's CBD into a vibrant, inclusive community hub and creating a new platform for events, cultural celebration and civic life.
- A landmark cultural investment, reopening the restored Roxy Community Theatre after a $12 million refurbishment, returning an iconic Art Deco venue to the heart of Leeton and enabling a strong calendar of local and touring performances.
- Environmental leadership through FOGO, rolling out the Food and Garden Organics service across the Shire and achieving an exceptional 0.3% contamination rate while diverting around 1,000 tonnes of organics from landfill each year and a jointly procured power purchase agreement that sees $70K savings pa for large sites.
- A bold digital transformation program, including NSW's first local-government Digital Twin for water network management, cutting water loss from 43% to 13% and streamlining customer services through online systems.
- Strong advocacy and regional collaboration, helping secure $13 million for the WRConnect freight rail siding and leading statewide reform advocacy on NSW RFS asset accounting.
- Driving liveability and growth, delivering Vance Industrial Estate Stage 3, finalising a Housing Strategy and Implementation Plan, and expanding the Leeton Early Learning Centre to increase childcare capacity.
- Improved community outcomes, including participation as a collaborative care health pilot and the Gamechanger sports initiative in local schools.
Mayor Cr George Weston said the award is a proud moment for the whole community.
"We may be a small Shire, but we certainly punch above our weight, and this extraordinary recognition reflects what we can achieve when our community, councillors and staff come together for the betterment of our Shire," Mayor Weston said.
"This award honours the progress we've made - from renewing our town centre and restoring the Roxy, to backing young people, improving essential services and leading on sustainability. It's a shared win for everyone who loves and invests in Leeton Shire."
General Manager Jackie Kruger said the Bluett Award acknowledges Council's commitment to practical delivery and long-term community benefit.
"We are grateful that the AR Bluett Trustees have recognised that innovation doesn't need a big-city budget - it needs clear priorities, good partnerships and a willingness to try new ways to achieve great outcomes for our community. I'm incredibly proud of our staff, Councillors and volunteers, and grateful to our community for their trust and collaboration."
The AR Bluett Memorial Award has been presented annually since 1945. It is defined as "the greatest accolade a council can receive and the pinnacle of local government achievement" and is judged by independent trustees who assess councils on overall progress and excellence in a single reporting year. Leeton has twice before received this prestigious Award in 1951 and 1963.
