Port Stephens Council’s collaborative project, ‘Caring for Country with culturally informed cool burning’, has won the First Nations Partnership category at the 2026 NSW Local Government Excellence Awards.
The awards celebrate outstanding achievement, innovation and continuous improvement within NSW local government.
To mark the milestone, Mayor Leah Anderson gathered alongside representatives from the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council and project teams at the Murrook Culture Centre to celebrate their shared success.
The project is the result of a dedicated three-year partnership between Council’s Environmental Team, the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council, the Bindelong Indigenous Aboriginal Corporation, and Hunter Local Land Services. Together, the teams undertook low-intensity, culturally informed cool burns across local areas, including Salamander Bay and Mallabula.
A cool burn, also known as a low-intensity burn, is a controlled burning technique designed to remove undergrowth and dry debris without significantly impacting the upper forest canopy.
The project delivered significant cultural and environmental outcomes, including enhancing koala habitats, reducing bushfire fuel loads and strengthening collaborative relationships. It also aligns with Port Stephens Council’s goals of protecting and enhancing the local environment, while mitigating environmental risks associated with climate change and natural hazards, such as extreme heat and bushfires.
Hear from participants about the Cool Burn process and the environmental benefits by watching the short video filmed during the project.
