Economic Development Excellence Awards 2006

More than 200 people from councils and regional development agencies across Australia applauded the finalists and the winners of the Economic Development Excellence Awards (affectionately known as the ED Awards) for 2006. More than 60 councils and agencies entered the 2006 Awards including city and regional councils from all parts of Australia.

The President of Economic Development Australia, David Keenan, commented on the high calibre of the entries received. “ It was very pleasing that there was a wide spectrum of entries, from big and small councils, and from every state in Australia.”
 
The ED Awards were presented at a Gala Dinner held at the Arts Centre in Melbourne on 16 November 2006.   Finalists and award winners for the nine award categories came from councils and regional development agencies from across Australia.  More than 60 councils from throughout Australia entered the Awards. 
 
The keynote speaker at the ED Awards, the Federal Minister for Small Business and Tourism, the Hon. Fran Bailey, congratulated all finalists for their contribution to local economic development activity.  The Minister said that local government and regional bodies have a vital role to play in stimulating employment and business conditions.
 
The City of Greater Geelong (Vic) was the winner of the Overall best Performance. The City was a finalist in three of the Awards categories.
 
The category Award winners were: the Rural City of Wangaratta (Vic), Strategy Award; City of Salisbury (SA), Promotion – Business Attraction Award; Circular Head Council (Tas), Promotion – Publications Award;  Greater Shepparton City Council ( Vic), Promotion – Internet Award; Moreton Bay Coast and Country ACC (QLD),  Innovation Award;  Hume City Council (Vic), Partnerships Award; Cr Greg Fahey, Maroochy Shire Council (QLD), Leadership-elected Award; Kylie Lethbridge, Macedon Shire Ranges (Vic), Leadership-employee Award.
 
Mr  Keenan said “This year’s ED Awards has confirmed the status of the awards, and the role they are playing in raising the profile of economic development initiatives within councils and also the profile of  economic development professionals. Many of them are unsung heroes who are quietly doing a tremendous job to improve the business conditions and employment opportunities within their local government and regional areas.”

Mr Keenan said  “On behalf of the new Board of Economic Development Australia, I would like to congratulate all the organizations which submitted entries and to encourage them to do so again in 2007. Details of how to enter the 2007 Awards will be available by midway through next year.”

Winners and  Finalists 

Best Overall Performance
City of Greater Geelong - [ more... ]

Strategic
Rural City of Wangaratta - winner - [ more...]
Wakefield Regional Council  - finalist
City of Newcastle  - finalist

Promotion- business attraction
City of Salisbury - winner - [ more... ]
City of Greater Geelong - finalist
Baw Baw Shire - finalist

Promotion – publications
Circular Head Council - winner  - [ more... ]
City of Newcastle  - finalist
City of Greater Geelong - finalist

Promotion - internet
Greater Shepparton City Council - winner  - [ more... ]
City of Subiaco - finalist
Redland Shire Council - finalist

Innovation
Moreton Bay Coast and Country Area Consultative Committee - winner  - [ more... ]
Baw Baw Shire - finalist
City of Hume  - finalist

Private Public partnerships
City of Hume - winner  - [ more... ]
Penrith City Council - finalist
City of Greater Geelong  - finalist

Leadership (elected)
Cr. Greg Fahey (Maroochy Shire) - winner [ more... ]

Leadership (employee)
Kylie Lethbridge (Macedon Ranges Shire) - winner [ more... ]
Michael Pickering (Logan City) - finalist