Willoughby City Council's Resilient Willoughby Primary School Active Travel Program has been recognised at the NSW Planning Institute of Australia's Planning Excellence Awards for leadership in stakeholder engagement.
The award acknowledges the program's commitment to community-led planning and its success in encouraging safe walking and cycling to school across the region.
What began as a conversation about community needs has grown into a best practise model now adopted by the NSW Government as a funded initiative through the NSW Get Kids Active program.
Mayor Taylor accepted the award alongside Willoughby Council's Resilience Specialist Nick Chapman and Environmental Education Coordinator Lee-Ann Googan, recognising the collaborative effort behind the program's success.
"This award belongs to our community: to the parents, teachers, principals, and most importantly, the kids whose ideas and enthusiasm have shaped this program from the start," Mayor Taylor said.
"What makes me most proud is seeing the curriculum-based approach developed by our Council now adopted by the NSW Government, encouraging schools and councils across the state, from Willoughby to Bourke, to create safe walking and cycling paths to school. This is what happens when you genuinely listen to what families need and work together with a school community to deliver it."
The benefits of active travel are well-documented.
Research shows that students who walk or cycle to school are fitter, more independent and socialise and learn better.
The program improves pedestrian safety, is good for the environment and reduces the need for parents to drive their children to school. It demonstrates how genuine community engagement can create lasting, scalable solutions that improve outcomes for students and families well beyond Willoughby
