Tiny Coomba Park, on the MidCoast, has taken out four category awards at the state Tidy Towns awards and was named winner of the smallest-town category.
The Keep Australia Beautiful NSW 2026 Tidy Towns Awards were announced on Saturday, 17 October at a ceremony hosted by Orange, the 2025 titleholder.
The Coomba & District Progress Association did the heavy lifting. Its four winning projects were:
Mystery Market, by Lynda Love and the association, in Circular Economy.
Coomba Gardening and Produce, by Kim Peace and the association, in Communication and Engagement.
The Tidal Pool, by John Coles, Lynda Neslen, and the association, in Liveable Towns.
Sustainability Table, by Kirsty Duncan and the association, in Waste Avoidance.
Bellingen was a finalist in its population category. Bellingen Shire Council won three project awards: Climate Emergency Response, Connell Park Redevelopment, and Bellingen Town Entry Statements.
Byron Shire Council won its category for TrailerBlazers: Byron Shire’s Move to Reuse, in Plastic-Free Communities. Its EV Transition to Net Zero project was Highly Commended in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.
In Ballina, Rik Whitehead was named Local Hero in his population category.
The top prize went to Dungog. It was named Overall Winner, and will now represent NSW at the 2027 Australian Tidy Towns Awards.
Dungog also won its population category, along with awards for Single Use Plastic-Free Dungog and for Myall Creek Rehabilitation: A Rediscovery, a project led by Sustaining the Williams Valley Inc. Michelle Dado-Millyn was named the town’s Local Hero in her population category.
Judges praised the town’s volunteer networks, community ownership, and knack for turning local concerns into lasting action.
KAB NSW Overall Assessor Peter Clark said the town’s ability to keep up the effort over time set it apart.
“Dungog’s greatest strength is the combination of resilience, initiative and community capacity,” Mr Clark said.
Across the state, the awards recognised projects led by councils, community groups, schools, businesses, and individuals. Since 1981, the Tidy Towns program has celebrated efforts to protect and improve the environment in rural and regional NSW.
KAB NSW CEO Val Southam congratulated Dungog and all the award recipients.
“These awards celebrate the people who give their time, energy and ideas to make their communities better places to live,” Ms Southam said.
“Dungog’s achievements show how much can be accomplished when local people work together and sustain that commitment over time.”
Photos from the event and the winners’ book will be available at https://www.kabnsw.org.au/2026-tidy-towns-winner/
Like what you’re reading? Support North Coast Times by making a small contribution today and help us keep delivering local news paywall-free. Donate now