Orange cleaned up at the 2025 Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Tidy Towns Awards on the weekend, receiving several prizes in its population category and taking out the top award of Overall Tidy Towns Winner 2025.
WINNING WAYS: Member for Orange Phil Donato, Orange Mayor Tony Mileto, Councillor Marea Ruddy and former Orange City Council Tidy Towns coordinator Roger Smith with the prizes at the awards ceremony.
♦ In short: Orange took out the coveted Overall Winner award at the 2025 Tidy Towns Awards.
♦ Orange received several prizes in its population category, recognising its continued leadership in sustainability.
♦ What's next: Orange will represent NSW at the Australian Tidy Towns awards in Launceston, Tasmania in May 2026.
The awards were announced on Saturday 11 October at a ceremony in Parkes. Orange Mayor Tony Mileto was thrilled with the prize haul.
"We are absolutely delighted that Orange has been named the NSW Tidy Town for 2025. This award is a reflection of the incredible commitment and pride our community shows every day-from local volunteers and schools to council teams and businesses," Cr Mileto said.
"It's a celebration of our shared efforts to protect the environment, enhance public spaces, and foster a strong sense of community. We're proud to lead by example and inspire other towns across the country to embrace sustainability and community pride."
As well as being named the overall NSW Tidy Town for 2025, Orange received the following awards in its population category:
- Population Category E (>23,001) Winner – Orange
- Biodiversity Conservation - Orange Youth Action Council 'Planting for the Future'
- Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation - Orange City Council 'Electrify Everything Campaign'
- Community Spirit & Inclusion - Orange City Council 'Rainbow Festival'
- Liveable Towns - (Highly Commended) Orange City Council - 'Lake Canobolas: Places to Swim'
- Waste Avoidance - Orange City Council 'Zest Fest: Refills not Landfill'
- Local Heroes - Fred Maw
Orange is a long-time Tidy Towns participant and previous state winner in 2018, 2016 and 1982. Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Tidy Towns Assessor Doug MacDonald praised Orange's ongoing commitment.
"Orange's dedication to sustainability remains strong and highly visible. The town demonstrates consistent action across nearly all key competition areas, supported by a particularly wide and well-connected network of community organisations. What stands out is the ability of these groups to collaborate seamlessly and effectively working together as one for each other's causes," Mr MacDonald said.
With this award, Orange will represent NSW at the Australian Tidy Towns awards in Launceston, Tasmania in May 2026.
