Celebrating excellence in Crown land management: 2025 award finalists revealed

Dedicated Crown land managers from across NSW have been named as finalists in the 2025 NSW/ACT Community Achievement Awards, recognised for their outstanding commitment to caring for public reserves and supporting their communities.

Crown Lands in the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, proudly supports 2 award categories, with 5 finalists for each category this year:

• Crown Land Management Excellence Award recognises a volunteer Crown land manager board that has demonstrated outstanding service in managing a Crown reserve for the benefit of their community. There are 540 volunteer land manager boards, made up of over 2,600 individuals, who volunteer their time in caring for over 700 reserves across the state.
• Council Crown Land Management Excellence Award recognises a council that has made a real difference in its community by improving Crown land for public benefit. There are over 6,500 Crown reserves in NSW managed by 128 local councils.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“Crown land managers across NSW play a crucial role in the care, control and management of community land and these awards recognise those who have made a real difference by improving a Crown reserve for public benefit.

“Crown land reserves allow the public to enjoy and utilise parks and nature reserves, beaches and holiday parks, sports venues and showgrounds, community halls and museums, which are essential to community life and support local tourism and businesses.”

Crown Land Management Excellence Award finalists:

• Bogan Gate Recreation Reserve Land Manager has restored its reserve as the social and sporting heart of the small rural township. Managed by a dedicated volunteer land manager board, the reserve delivered major upgrades, including resurfaced tennis courts, new lighting, fencing, and an upgraded clubhouse with Wi-Fi and accessible facilities. It now supports junior and senior tennis programs, the town’s first women’s netball team, and community resilience initiatives through partnerships with the NSW Rural Fire Service.
• Lightning Ridge Area Opal Reserve Land Manager is managed by a diverse local community volunteer board. The reserve balances mining, culture, education, tourism, and conservation. Over the past 18 months, the board has launched the Wandella Education and Research Hub, partnered with schools and universities to deliver youth and Indigenous programs and implemented an Indigenous-led share farming program across 3,000 acres. It also delivered major environmental works including Hudson pear spraying and feral pest management programs. Infrastructure upgrades to roads and firefighting resources were also completed.
• Narrabri Showground Land Manager is home to over a dozen local organisations, from equestrian and harness racing clubs to Riding for the Disabled and the Narrabri Show Society. It hosts a range of events, from shows, rodeos, and youth camps to weddings and emergency evacuations. The volunteer board has recently delivered significant upgrades including new solar power, arena lighting, fencing, pavilions, accessible amenities, and power board safety improvements.
• Port Stephens Community Arts Centre Land Manager has revitalised a former World War II hospital into a flourishing community space that celebrates creativity, connection, and resilience. The volunteer-run organisation manages 17 arts and crafts groups, hosting exhibitions, workshops, and social events for over 300 members and the wider public. Recent flood recovery works and improvements have enhanced safety, accessibility, and sustainability.
• Windeyer Recreation Reserve Land Manager has transformed a historic reserve into a thriving centre for recreation and community life. Managed entirely by dedicated local volunteers, the reserve now features a new children’s playground, upgraded accessible amenities, and improved tennis courts - creating a safe, family-friendly space for residents and visitors alike. Hosting markets, sporting events, fundraisers, and social gatherings, the reserve continues to unite people of all ages while supporting local groups such as the Rural Fire Service and Progress Association.

Council Crown Land Management Excellence Award finalists:

• Balranald Shire Council has transformed the Heritage Park Reserve, known as the Balranald Discovery Centre precinct, into a thriving destination for tourism, learning, and community connection. Upgrades include a technology refurbishment of the Interpretive Pavilion, introducing interactive storytelling and touchscreen displays that celebrate local history and Aboriginal heritage. As well as the construction of the Discovery Pavilion, offering flexible space for exhibitions, workshops, and cultural events. The precinct also features a visitor centre, museum and café that engage visitors and locals alike.
• Bayside Council transformed Barton Park, a long-abandoned landfill and former soccer stadium, into a state-of-the-art recreational precinct that celebrates sport, community, and sustainability. Barton Park Recreational Precinct features multiple football pitches, tennis and multi-purpose courts, playgrounds, fitness zones, and walking trails, providing accessible facilities for residents and visitors. The project restored St George FC to its historic home, revitalising the site’s sporting heritage while ensuring environmental responsibility through asbestos remediation, solar lighting, and biodiversity protection for the nearby wetlands.
• Burwood Council has reimagined Burwood Park, established in 1882, into a modern, inclusive, and environmentally conscious landmark at the heart of Burwood’s CBD. Recent upgrades feature a new adventure playground, revitalised pond, sensory garden, and multiple cultural art installations such as Wilay Mulaa and BLOOM. The park hosts a vibrant program of community events and programs, with developments for an inclusive playground and shaded performance space also underway.
• Inner West Council has transformed King George Park, Rozelle, into a vibrant and inclusive parkland that celebrates community, culture, and active living. Guided by a community-driven Plan of Management and Master Plan, the revitalisation delivered new sports field upgrades, sustainable amenities, and one of Sydney's best inclusive playgrounds, designed with community input and supported by Touched by Olivia. The park also features Aboriginal cultural artworks by Mumbulla Creative, upgraded fitness stations, and enhanced access to Iron Cove through pontoons and watercraft facilities.
• Richmond Valley Council has revitalised the historic 34-hectare Casino Showground and Racecourse into a leading regional equestrian and events venue through a redevelopment completed in 2024. The transformation delivered a new undercover arena, outdoor sand training arena, modern stables for 80 horses, and upgraded infrastructure, lighting, and spectator amenities. Beyond equestrian events, the precinct now hosts agricultural shows, rodeos, concerts, trade expos, and cultural festivals—attracting participants from across NSW and interstate.

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner in Sydney on Saturday, 29 November 2025.