Awards and recognition

Crown Lands acknowledges the outstanding contributions of volunteer community boards and local councils in managing over 7,000 Crown reserves across NSW.

Crown land managers play a crucial role in the care, control and management of community land including parks and nature reserves, beaches and holiday parks, sports venues and showgrounds, community halls and museums, which are essential to community life and supports local tourism and businesses.

Currently there are around 2,500 volunteer community members on 540 Statutory Land Manager boards involved in Crown reserve management across NSW.

Crown Lands Service Recognition Awards acknowledges individuals who have provided decades of service in the management of Crown land for their local community. Awards are delivered at 10–year intervals, for as long as the member continues as a land manager.

In 2024, over 900 individuals were acknowledged for their long–term service volunteering on a Crown land management board. Over 170 individuals were acknowledged for over 30 years of service and around 20 individuals acknowledged for over 40 years on a land manager board.

“The NSW Government is focused on building better communities, but we cannot do that without the invaluable help of volunteers across the state who put their time and effort into managing public infrastructure on Crown land reserves.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper

The NSW/ACT Community Achievement Awards is a state–wide annual awards program organised by Awards Australia. The Department sponsors award categories for Crown land management.

The Community Achievement Awards (CAA) started in 2002 and are designed to encourage, acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions that individuals, communities and businesses make throughout NSW and the ACT. These awards aim to recognise their success and achievements which contribute to making NSW and the ACT a better place.

Information about the awards program, including a list of current and past award winners NSW/ACT CAA, is available on the Awards Australia website.

Bogan Gate Recreation Reserve Land Manager has won the Crown Land Management Excellence Award for breathing new life into the reserve through community–led upgrades. The transformation includes resurfaced tennis courts, new lighting and fencing, and an upgraded clubhouse with Wi-Fi and accessible facilities. The reserve is the social and sporting heart of the small rural township, hosting junior and senior tennis programs, the town's first women's netball team, social events and community resilience initiatives in partnership with the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Balranald Shire Council has won the Council Crown Land Management Excellence Award for transforming the Heritage Park Reserve, known as the Balranald Discovery Centre precinct, into a vibrant destination for tourism, learning, and community connection. Upgrades included a technology refurbishment of the Interpretive Pavilion, introducing interactive storytelling and touchscreen displays that celebrate local history and Aboriginal heritage. The council was also recognised for the construction of the Discovery Pavilion, offering flexible space for exhibitions, workshops, and cultural events. The precinct also features a visitor centre, museum, Men's Shed, cafe, playground and skate park that engage visitors and locals alike.

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

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 Football Club 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.