Parkes Shire has proudly brought home national honours from the 2025 Australian Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards, with wins and commendations recognising the community's commitment to sustainability, culture and local leadership.
Representing Parkes at the national awards held over the weekend in Beechworth, Victoria, were Deputy Mayor Cr Marg Applebee, Councillor Bill Jayet as well as Parkes Shire Council's Manager Environment and Sustainability Michael Chambers, and Environmental and Biosecurity Specialist Hannah Farrant-Jayet - both of whom played a key role in preparing the award submissions. The event brought together finalists from across the country to celebrate innovation, sustainability, and community pride in regional towns.
Parkes received national recognition in the categories below:
- Winner - Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Raw Water Storage Lagoon
- Highly Commended - Heritage and Culture: Wiradjuri Language Group
- Special Acknowledgement - Dame Phyllis Frost Local Hero Award: Deb Jones
Deputy Mayor Cr Marg Applebee said the accolades reflect the collective efforts of the Parkes Shire community.
"Receiving these awards reflects the hard work of our entire community, from Council staff to volunteers, local businesses, and community groups. We are so proud to see projects like the Raw Water Storage Lagoon recognised on the national stage."
The Raw Water Storage Lagoon, which took out the top honour in the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation category, is an innovative infrastructure project that forms part of the broader Parkes Water Security Program. Designed to meet the region's growing water needs while improving resilience, the lagoon increases the Water Treatment Plant's storage capacity by over 20 megalitres providing a 24-hour buffer during droughts, emergencies or system outages. The project uses solar energy and gravity to significantly cut emissions, reducing CO₂ output by more than 900 tonnes annually.
Cr Bill Jayet said he was particularly proud to see the cultural contributions of the Wiradjuri Language Group recognised.
"Language is a living part of culture, and the work being done to share and preserve Wiradjuri language in Parkes is truly significant," Cr Jayet said.
"It's an honour to see that effort acknowledged alongside other incredible community initiatives across the country," he added.
A highlight of the evening was the Special Acknowledgement awarded to Parkes local Deb Jones in the Dame Phyllis Frost Local Hero category. After returning to Parkes in 2018 to care for her ageing parents, Deb channelled her creative expertise into enhancing the Parkes community.
Her involvement spans Central West Lachlan Landcare, National Tree Day, Schools Eco Day, NAIDOC events, NetWaste initiatives, and as Chairperson and co-founder of Parkes Community Arts. Her dedication to promoting sustainable art practices and reimagining the role of art in regional communities has left a lasting impact.
Cr Applebee added the awards weekend had been both uplifting and motivating.
"This weekend has been such a rewarding experience. Meeting people from across Australia doing amazing things in their towns is inspiring and energising. To all the State Finalists, congratulations! Your stories have moved us deeply."
Parkes was proud to represent New South Wales among other state finalists including Ikuntji (NT), Kingston SE (SA), Launceston (TAS), Port and South Headland (WA), and Rye (VIC). The overall national Tidy Town Award went to Launceston, Tasmania.
Parkes Shire Council extends its sincere thanks to Keep Australia Beautiful for more than 50 years of championing sustainability and community pride in rural and regional areas.
Cr Jayet also commended the event hosts, saying:
"A heartfelt thank you to Indigo Shire Council for the warm welcome to beautiful Beechworth. Your hospitality made the occasion even more special."
Parkes now looks forward to hosting the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Awards in October 2025, where it will welcome communities from across the state to celebrate local initiatives and environmental leadership.
