The winners of the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW (KAB NSW) 2025 Tidy Towns Awards were announced on 11 October at a vibrant ceremony hosted by the 2024 titleholder, Parkes. The prestigious title of Overall Tidy Towns Winner 2025 was awarded to Orange, recognising its continued leadership in sustainability, community collaboration, and environmental innovation.
With this award, Orange will represent New South Wales at the Australian Tidy Towns Awards in Launceston, Tasmania in May 2026.
Orange, a long-time Tidy Towns participant and previous state winner in 2018, 2016 and 1982, continues to set the benchmark for excellence in environmental stewardship and community engagement. This year, the town also received top honours in the Biodiversity Conservation, Community Spirit and Inclusion, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation and Waste Avoidance categories.
KAB NSW Tidy Towns Assessor Doug MacDonald praised Orange’s ongoing commitment:
“Orange’s dedication to sustainability remains strong and highly visible. The town demonstrates consistent action across nearly all key competition areas, supported by a particularly wide and well-connected network of community organisations. What stands out is the ability of these groups to collaborate seamlessly and effectively working together as one for each other’s causes.”
Since 1981, the Tidy Towns program has recognised and celebrated outstanding efforts to protect and enhance the environment across NSW communities. From reducing litter and minimising waste, to promoting local heritage, biodiversity, and community spirit, the program highlights the impact of grassroots action and innovative thinking.
KAB NSW CEO, Val Southam, congratulated all winners and finalists:
“The Tidy Towns Awards continue to inspire regional communities across the state to step up, collaborate and innovate for a more sustainable future. The entries received this year reflect the passion, resilience and ingenuity of local councils, community groups, schools and individuals. I commend Orange and all entrants for their leadership and commitment to building thriving, sustainable communities.”
The awards are hosted by Keep Australia Beautiful NSW with support from the NSW Environment Protection Authority, Parkes Shire Council, Snowy Hydro, Rollers Australia, Central West Lachlan Landcare, Total Groundworx, Westlime, Moduplay Group and Steve Magill Earthmoving.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE KAB NSW 2025 TIDY TOWNS WINNERS AND HIGHLY COMMENDED TABLE
Photos from the event are available at: https://clients.paulbenjamin.com.au/-towns25/gallery. Please credit Paul Benjamin Photography.
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Contact Details
Val Southam, Chief Executive Officer KABNSW at ceo@kabnsw.org.au, t: 0419016401
EDITOR’S NOTE:
About the KABNSW Tidy Towns Awards
ABOUT THE TIDY TOWNS AWARDS
Since 1981, the Tidy Towns Program has been rewarding and recognising projects around litter, waste management, recycling, heritage, community spirit and other environmental areas in towns both large and small across the breadth of NSW.
We endeavour to deliver an inclusive and positive platform that encourages shared learnings and inspires environmental action at the local level. The program recognises and celebrates those rural and regional communities who are pioneering the path towards a more sustainable future.
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 communities and collaborate with industry, businesses, state and local government to promote sustainable behaviour changes for the future prosperity of our State.
Keeping Australia beautiful is about more than keeping litter out of our environment and over a 40-year history our programs have adapted to incorporate all aspects of sustainability. We have built a state-wide network of dedicated individuals, businesses, schools, community groups and government bodies striving to deliver a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
Through five core programs we work with communities across regional, metropolitan, and coastal NSW to educate and motivate environmental initiatives.