Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown—Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault)—As a former councillor and mayor, I know how great the team at Lake Macquarie City Council is—but it's always good when others sit up and take notice, too! On Sunday 17 November at the Local Government NSW conference in Tamworth, Lake Macquarie City Council won the metropolitan/major regional AR Bluett Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in Local Government. The council embarked on a strategy of proactively working to grow the city, attracting new and younger residents and diversifying the local economy, especially in the hospitality, health and service industries. This resulted in an average 7% growth in the economy and 22,000 new jobs. The University of Newcastle found that the council was the key driver for this change. This is the second time that Lake Macquarie City Council have won this prestigious award, previously also winning the award in 2012—back when I was still on Council. Congratulations Lake Macquarie City Council, Chief Executive Officer Morven Cameron, new mayor Adam Shultz, and the whole team of 1,300! Well deserved!

A Community Recognition Notice is an opportunity for an MP to submit a short statement praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Notice, please email and let me know!