Nine Council projects named finalists in NSW Excellence Awards

Penrith City Council has been named a finalist in nine separate categories of the 2026 NSW Local Government Excellence Awards — the highest number for any LGA west of Parramatta.

Recognised programmes include the Council's recycled-glass road-base trial, the Dharug Cultural Heritage Trail launched in partnership with local elders, the Youth Leadership Council, and the LED street-lighting conversion project that has cut Council's lighting electricity bill by two-thirds.

Local Government NSW chief executive Scott Phillips said Penrith's spread of nominations "across environment, planning, community and operations" reflected genuine breadth rather than a single hero project.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony at Doltone House on 14 August.