Council staff, councillors and volunteers gathered at Chelmsford Place on Friday, 13 March 2026, to mark the official unveiling of the AR Bluett Memorial Award plaque, commemorating Leeton Shire Council's recognition as the rural recipient of NSW local government's highest honour (first announced in November 2025).
The ceremony was attended by AR Bluett honorary trustees Paul Braybrooks OAM, Gail Giles-Gidney and Mark Ferguson, who formally acknowledged Council's achievement and the collective effort of staff, councillors, volunteers and the wider community.
The following sentiments were expressed by the trustees during the plaque unveiling, celebrating the initiatives and leadership that led to this significant honour.
"On behalf of the Trustees of the A.R. Bluett Memorial Award, it is our great pleasure to acknowledge and congratulate Leeton Shire Council on an exceptional and highly deserving winning submission.
The Bluett Award has always recognised councils that not only deliver for today, but set their communities up for tomorrow. Leeton has done this with remarkable clarity, courage, and consistency.
What stood out to the Trustees most was the sheer breadth and depth of achievement across the organisation. This is a council that has modernised its internal systems, expanded its economic base, strengthened social infrastructure, and honoured its heritage—while never losing sight of community, culture, and fiscal discipline. The Art Deco Capital of Regional Australia.
The digital transformation program is sector-leading—streamlining processes, preserving organisational knowledge, and introducing NSW's first Digital Twin for water management. The result: major efficiency gains, a 30-percent reduction in water loss, and a capability that places Leeton at the forefront of smart regional service delivery.
The restoration and reopening of the Roxy Theatre demonstrated extraordinary resilience, governance and project control, especially when faced with contractor collapse—a challenge that would have derailed many larger councils. What followed was a first-class cultural venue, thousands of volunteer hours through the Roxy "Dream Team", and a new heart for the community.
Your FOGO rollout was equally impressive: a contamination rate of just 0.3 percent—one of the best in the state—achieved through deep community engagement, careful planning, and regional collaboration. This is environmental leadership delivered with discipline and authenticity.
Your investment in placemaking—most notably the Chelmsford Town Square and the stunning digital projection of the water tower—shows imagination and pride in local story. The integration of Wiradjuri-led content and community-driven design stood out as exemplary practice in cultural inclusion.
The Trustees also acknowledge Leeton's leadership beyond its boundaries—from the statewide RFS Red Fleet advocacy, to the shaping of freight infrastructure investment, to your role in improving Pacific worker wellbeing and health service models. This is courageous, values-driven leadership delivered well beyond what might be expected of a rural council. Fondly describes as the 'Mouse that Roared' to advocate for change.
Add to this your Housing Strategy, industrial estate expansion, childcare provision, shared service leadership, tourism innovation, and outstanding youth, village, and First Nations engagement—and it is clear that this is a council performing at a consistently high standard across all domains.
Above all, the Trustees were struck by the coherence of your story: a council that listens to its community, plans ahead, and executes with discipline and heart. This recognition is richly deserved.
Please accept our sincere congratulations on setting a benchmark for rural excellence—and for demonstrating what is possible when a council leads with purpose, integrity, and imagination."
