Council crowned state leaders in sustainability at 2024 NSW Banksia Awards

19 November 2024

Hawkesbury City Council has been crowned as a leader in sustainability with a Large Business Sustainability Leadership Award at the NSW Banksia Awards presented in November.

The award, presented on 15 November, celebrates exceptional commitment and achievements in integrating sustainable practices across our operations. In the aftermath of the 2019/2020 bushfires and consecutive floods, Council developed four foundational sustainability strategic plans addressing Net Zero and Water efficiency, Climate Risk, Urban Greening, and Environmental Sustainability.

Hawkesbury City Council General Manager Elizabeth Richardson said adversity had fuelled Council’s urgency to develop strategies for sustainability, environmental stewardship, and climate resilience.

“The old saying a land of drought and flooding rain has never proven to be more real than what our community has experienced from the devastating bushfire season in 2019/2020 through to the eight flood events we have experienced since,” she said.

“We rapidly transformed the culture of the organisation from one that lacks sustainability knowledge, skills and desire to one that has sustainability front and centre of all decision making, and amazingly all in under three years – it can be done. But we’re not finished yet.”

Plans are underway to expand into initiatives focused on sustainable food systems, resilient infrastructure, and circular economy practices. Council’s work will ensure long-term resilience and prosperity for the community.

Council’s win sees us automatically entered into the Banksia National Sustainability Awards in April 2025.

Council also received a commendation at the Planning Institute of Australia Awards in the Climate Change and Resilience Category for our Climate Change Risk Assessment and Adaptation Action Plan the previous  night.

The Plan focuses on adaptation and provides Council with a list of short, medium and long-term measures to address the risks and impacts of climate change within the Hawkesbury Local Government Area.