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Collecting the Local Government Excellence in Road Safety Award are Lachlan Shire Council's Director of Technical Services Phil Newham, Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils' Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer Melanie Suitor, Lachlan Shire Mayor Cr. Des Manwaring and Lachlan Shire Council Engineer Ben Falconer. |
Catch Ya Later Condo Wins Local Government Excellence in Road Safety Award 2008
Lachlan Shire Council’s road safety program Catch Ya Later Condo has been announced the 2008 winner of the Local Government Excellence in Road Safety Award.
Catch Ya Later Condo is an alternative transport project that encouraged residents to leave their car at home if they were planning to drink, catch a cab and be rewarded for doing so.
The project saw partnerships formed between Council, the Condobolin Liquor Accord, Condo Cabs, RTA, Ministry of Transport, NSW Police, local business, and local media.
The award, which is sponsored by the Motor Accidents Authority, was presented at the Annual Conference of the Institute of Public Works and Engineering Australia (NSW Division) in Sydney on 19 May 2008.
The award is presented to Councils to recognise outstanding achievements in the area of road safety and are linked to the Local Government Road Safety Program, which is a key partnership between the RTA, Local Government Association of NSW and Shires Association of NSW, IPWEA and MAA, to raise the profile of road safety in Local Government and the local community.
Catch Ya Later Condo was among 20 project nominations for the award from some 43 Councils across the State.
Lachlan Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, who was present at the awards dinner, said she was excited and gratified with the announcement.
“Catch Ya Later Condo was designed to reduce the incidence of drink driving detected in Condobolin and encourage people to use the scheme. Both of these objectives were met. Drink driving offences were reduced, less cars were parked in the main street while the scheme was operational and some 300 people took part.
"Since its inception the project model has been implemented by 10 other Liquor Accords, including Parkes, over the Christmas party season last year.
“It was a great surprise when we were announced as the winner as I didn’t expect it with so many other worthy projects nominated. However, it is great to be recognised by your road safety peers in local government and at a State level as running a project that is considered to be of a high standard.
"The winners of this award are placed on a pedestal and the project promoted as best practice for road safety projects.
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank the IPWEA and awards sponsors, but more importantly everyone who helped out and got involved in the Catch Ya Later project - whether it be the Condobolin Liquor Accord Members, Condo Cabs, local media, funding body or participant - this award is for you!” Ms Suitor said.
The judging panel said that the Catch Ya Later Condo project was a standout.
"The project addressed a local road safety issue through innovative and sound methods. It incorporated excellent community and stakeholder involvement and followed best practice principles. The project evaluation included an analysis of recorded drink driving offences and surveys of patrons at participating venues, The success of Catch Ya Later Condo has encouraged Liquor Accords in other areas to adopt this approach," the judges commented.
Ms Suitor will present the award to Lachlan Shire Council at the June Council meeting.
Ms Suitor has worked as the Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer for Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils' for the past six years. Her role is to develop, implement and evaluate local road safety projects which in the past has seen her organise dress up your wheelie bin competitions, conduct seatbelt observational surveys, hold information sessions on gophers, run regional Newell Highway awareness project's, promote the use of speed monitor trailers, work with Youth Road Safety Teams and more.
Contact details
Melanie Suitor
02 6861 2364 (ph)
02 6863 5931 (fax)
melanie.suitor@parkes.nsw.gov.au
