Blue Mountains City Council has received recognition in three separate awards for outstanding achievements in 2014.
"These awards are testimony to the innovation and dedication of council staff, and the value of community partnerships," said Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill.
"Council continues to demonstrate that it has the ability to respond to the ever changing demands of local government, to secure grant funding to extend our delivery of service, and maintain effective partnerships with the community and other agencies."
The council was a finalist in the 2014 Premier's Public Sector Awards for its Blue Mountains Bushfire Rebuild Service.
The rebuild service was a joint initiative with the Rural Fire Service established in response to the devastating October 2013 bushfires. A designated recovery centre provided a free advisory service where property owners were given advice for rebuilding in line with current legislation and construction standards that address bushfire risk. More than 200 residents sought advice from the service.
The council was highly commended in the 2014 Local Government NSW Environment Awards in the weed management category.
A successful seven-year restoration program saw the removal of three aquatic weeds of national significance from Glenbrook Lagoon.
Funded by council's environment levy and a federal government grant, council's efforts over the last two years saw the lagoon transformed from the most polluted waterway in the Blue Mountains to a thriving wetland full of turtles, fish and other aquatic life.
The long-running Blue Mountains Sister Cities Volunteer Committee was awarded the prestigious Sister Cities Australia National Award for Best Single Project - the creation of the Sister Cities Garden in Buttenshaw Park, Springwood. It was also named the overall winner for the best Sister Cities program 2013-14.
