Winner Division B and Overall Winner

Byron Shire Council: Development of Byron Shire Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2020-2030
Byron Shire is unique in its biodiversity and has a high level of environmental volunteer engagement and activism. To develop capacity to manage the long-term functionality of threatened species and ecosystems, Council works in partnership with the community in a cross-tenure, landscape-based approach. The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy was developed with extensive engagement with the community, stakeholders and local ecologists, to reflect local knowledge of the environment, and the needs and capacity of the community to help protect it. The Strategy includes a plan of 90 measurable actions to support conservation across all departments of Council, on private land and in adjacent Local Government Areas.

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Winner Division C

Blue Mountains City Council: Water Sensitive Blue Mountains Strategic Plan
In the face of increasing urbanisation and changing climate, Council is committed to creating a more liveable, sustainable and resilient community through innovative and holistic water management as outlined in the Water Sensitive Blue Mountains Strategic Plan. The Plan was a reimagining of Council’s response to the ongoing challenges of urban runoff impacts on drinking water catchments and the downstream World Heritage National Park. The strategic plan aims to transform the way Council manages precious water resources through promoting water sensitive urban design and best practice stormwater management.