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Keep Australia Beautiful NSW (KAB NSW) is proud to announce the finalists for the 2025 Sustainable Cities Awards, a program that continues to spotlight the people, projects and partnerships working to build a cleaner, greener and more resilient metropolitan Sydney.
Now in its 31st year, the Sustainable Cities Awards program honours the outstanding achievements of councils, community groups, businesses, schools, and individuals who are tackling sustainability challenges head-on—through innovation, collaboration and community engagement.
“Every year, we are inspired by the depth of commitment and creativity shown by those striving to make Sydney more sustainable,” said Val Southam, CEO of KAB NSW. “The 2025 finalists represent the very best in urban environmental leadership, and we are thrilled to recognise their efforts.”
From grassroots campaigns to large-scale environmental programs, this year’s entries reflect a powerful momentum in metropolitan areas toward net zero goals, circular economy initiatives, biodiversity protection, and inclusive community engagement.
The Sustainable Cities Awards not only celebrate achievement but also seek to inspire action, highlighting the positive impact that individuals and organisations can have when sustainability becomes part of daily city life.
Winners will be announced at the 2025 Sustainable Cities Awards Luncheon on Thursday, 6 November, proudly hosted by 2024 Overall Award Winner Blacktown City Council and sponsored by Origin Zero at Sydney Zoo in Eastern Creek.
The KAB NSW Sustainable Cities Awards Program is made possible through the generous support of the NSW Environment Protection Authority, and Red Energy.
For more information about the awards please visit: https://www.kabnsw.org.au/awards/2025sustainablecitiesevent/
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2025 KAB NSW Sustainable Cities Awards Finalists
Biodiversity Conservation
- Wildlife Protection Areas
Lane Cove Council - Cooling the Schools
Greening Australia - Walk on Wangal Nature Trail
City of Canada Bay - Cumberland Woody Meadow Project
Cumberland City Council – Environment & Resource Recovery - Biodiversity Strategy 2023 to 2033
Blacktown City Council – Greenspace Services - Osprey Nesting Platform in Georges River
Georges River Council and Georges Riverkeeper - Lane Cove Community Nursery
Lane Cove Council - Royal Sydney’s Bay Course Project
The Royal Sydney Golf Club - Grow, Restore, Connect Volunteer Project
Sutherland Shire Council - Weeds to Natives Program
Wollondilly Shire Council - Growing the Urban Forest & Wild Things
Bayside Council - Robin Davies Wollondilly Community Nursery
Wollondilly Shire Council
Communication and Engagement
- Next Generation Waste Education Kids Tour
City of Newcastle - The Liverpool CRC Excursion Program
Liverpool City Council – Circular Economy Team - Weaving Climate Stories
Lane Cove Council - “Bin it Right” Campaign
Northern Beaches Council - Blacktown Big Ideas Environment Challenge
Blacktown City Council - From Infectious Fails to Five Star Nails
Blacktown City Council – Environmental Health - Youth Week Climate & Biodiversity Forum
Sutherland Shire Council - Lane Cove Seed Library
Lane Cove Library - Let’s Sort It Bayside
Bayside Council - Summer Foreshore Program 2024/25
Bayside Council - Georges River Binfluencing Campaign
Georges River Council - Sustainadilly Workshop Program
Wollondilly Shire Council - #SayHighForest
Hornsby Shire Council
Overall Sustainable Cities Award
- Bayside Council
- Hornsby Shire Council
- Liverpool Council
- Penrith Council
Circular Economy
- Mattress Shredding and Recycling
Liverpool City Council – Circular Economy Team - Microfactory
Liverpool City Council – Circular Economy Team - Buckle Up Recycling Child Car Safety Seats
Georges River Council
Community Spirit and Inclusion
- BCC Bushcare and Nursery Volunteer Program
Blacktown City Council – Greenspace Services - Bidwill Reserve Advocacy
Bidwill Uniting - Mana and Kaimana
Blacktown City Council – Emerton Youth Recreation Centre - The Wellbeing Project – My Neighbourhood
North West Community Services - Learn, Fix, Ride!
Bayside Council - New-Bub Bushcare
Hornsby Shire Council - Only About Children Childcare Relocation
Randwick City Council
Heritage and Culture
- Former Liverpool Courthouse Restoration
Liverpool City Council - The 12 Beetles of Christmas
Lane Cove Council - The Naming of Things Yarning Circles
Blacktown Arts and Uncle Chris Tobin
Plastic Free Communities
- Randwick’s Eco Living Festival
Randwick City Council – Sustainability
Resource Recovery
- Less Bins, More Wins: Waste Revitalisation
Penrith City Council - Solved! Public Place Recycling
Sutherland Shire Council
Waterways and Marine Protection
- Healthy Waterways Multicultural Workshop
Advanced Diversity Services & Georges River Council - Adopt a Beach Program
Surfrider Foundation Northern Beaches
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
- Cumberland Cool Carpark
Cumberland City Council - ROW – Recovery on Wheels
Penrith City Council and Hawkesbury City Council - Wisemans Ferry Community Resilience Plan
Hornsby Shire Council
Litter Prevention
- Hawkesbury Litter Prevention Program
Hawkesbury City Council - Tackling Northern Beaches Fishing Litter
OzFish and Northern Beaches Council - Satyam Ghaat – Litter Prevention
Liverpool City Council
Liveable Cities
- Philimona Gardens
Liverpool City Council and Phillips Marler - Gipps Street Recreation Precinct
Penrith City Council - Hawkins Hall Community Centre Upgrade
Hornsby Shire Council - Resilient Bayside
Bayside Council - Empowering Women and CALD Communities
City of Parramatta
Waste Avoidance
- Project Less to Landfill
Wheeler Heights Public School Sustainability Program - Second-Hand Markets: Circularity in Action
Hornsby Shire Council - Angle Park Beach Access and Remediation
Liverpool City Council - Creating Sustainable Cities
Auburn Hospital Sustainability Team - ReVIVE and ReCYCLE
Penrith City Council - ‘Crook’ed Waste
Kaye & Andrew Crook - How Low Can You Go?
Sutherland Shire Council
Young Legends
- Project Less to Landfill
Wheeler Heights Public School Sustainability Program - The Green Ripple Effect
Bayside Council - Jannali Public School Green Team
Jannali Public School
Contact Details
Val Southam, Chief Executive Officer KABNSW at ceo@kabnsw.org.au, t: 0419016401
EDITOR’S NOTE:
About the KABNSW Sustainable Cities Awards
Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Sustainable Cities Awards Program is a community and environmental awards program for metropolitan communities in NSW.
Since 1994, projects that not only enhance the environment but also improve the standard of living and well-being of urban communities have been a hallmark of the activities recognised by these awards.
The Sustainable Cities Awards inspire communities to make a genuine and lasting contribution to their area, with partnerships between local authorities, businesses, community groups, schools, and individuals.
About KAB NSW
Keep Australia Beautiful NSW (KABNSW) is the state’s premier organisation for litter reduction and environmental sustainability. Independent and not-for-profit, our focus is to engage councils and communities to make NSW the least littered state in Australia, transforming littering behaviour to create a beautiful and more sustainable environment.
Over a 40-year history we have built a state-wide network of dedicated individuals, businesses, schools, community groups and government bodies striving to deliver a cleaner environment.
Through five core programs we work with communities across regional and metropolitan NSW to educate and motivate environmental initiatives