Recognition for Council Staff and Programs

The City of Ballarat is celebrating multiple awards that recognise some of the great work and people employed across our organisation.  

During Council’s caretaker period, several virtual award ceremonies were held with accolades for those who work behind the scenes in a technical capacity delivering local government programs and services, to our family day-care workers and creative youth leaders making a difference in our community. 

National Recognition for Creative City Strategy   

Ballarat's Creative City Strategy and Creative Precinct Master Plan won the Best Planning Ideas (Large Project category) at the 2020 Planning Institute Australia (virtual) Awards for Planning Excellence.  

The judges were particularly impressed with the building of community ownership of the project, putting people at the forefront of the planning process, and the realistic outcomes such as events, a website, creative database and local magazine. 

Award-winning Cultural Design for Gardens Precinct  

A Sculpture Park Landscape Master Plan for the North Gardens precinct of the Lake Wendouree Parklands has won the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects National Award for Excellence in the cultural heritage category.   

The project was created in partnership with and guided by the Wadawurrung Aboriginal Corporation and Wadawurrung community, to heal, renew and ensure cultural attunement for the future of this precinct.  

Family Day Care Excellence 

Family Day Care Educator Melissa Dreger has been named Family Day Care Educator of the Year for Ballarat and Central Highlands for the second year running. 

Mel’s success reflects her commitment to the role and her willingness to act as a mentor to her peers, strengthening their knowledge of best practice to deliver high quality Family Day Care. 

Young Legends  

Two hugely successful Ballarat Youth Services led initiatives, Girl Space Fundraising Market Stalls and the Youth Council’s 2019 Green Wardrobe Giant Clothes Swap were acknowledged for their strong message of sustainability as finalists in the Keep Australia Beautiful Sustainable Cities Awards (Young Legend Category).  

Ballarat is also listed with these initiatives as finalist in the Council Award Social Wellbeing and Waste Categories.  

SONIKA  FReeZA Youth Volunteer Committee is also a finalist in the Victorian Regional Achievement and Community Awards for keeping live music gigs and workshops running throughout the COVID-19 lockdown.  Their ‘Fully Sick At Home’ kits took online content into the homes of the most disadvantaged, including the elderly. 

MAV Technology Awards for Excellence  

Four innovative ICT projects were finalists in multiple categories of the 2020 MAV Technology Awards for Excellence including the Smart City Achievement of the Year category for a Mobile Office initiative.  

The team’s involvement in the Pass on Glass campaign as part of changes introduced to the City’s recycling service, was recognised with their finalist nomination in the Collaboration or Partnership Achievement category.  

The awards recognise outstanding team and individual efforts in the use of technology to improve service delivery and efficiency to local government organisations or communities.