A new awards program celebrating Hume’s cleanest and most attractive streets is to be explored, after councillors unanimously backed a proposal from Cllr Naim Kurt.
The move comes as illegal rubbish dumping remains one of the most persistent and costly problems across the municipality, with council spending about $5m each year clearing dumped waste – money Cllr Kurt said could otherwise improve parks, playgrounds, roads and community services.
Speaking at the Monday 27 October meeting of the council he said despite efforts such as education campaigns, tougher local laws, the “Dob in a Dumper” hotline and a name-and-shame program, the issue continues to frustrate residents.
Cllr Kurt said many neighbourhoods that work hard to stay clean receive little recognition, while derelict or neglected properties become hotspots for further dumping, graffiti and unsafe behaviour.
Under the adopted motion, council will investigate establishing a Best Kept Street or Best Kept Neighbourhood award to encourage positive community action alongside enforcement.
The proposed program would:
- Recognise residents, community groups and businesses that maintain clean and well-presented streets
- Explore partnerships with organisations such as Keep Australia Beautiful, as well as national landscape, heritage and housing design bodies
- Create a formal annual awards structure celebrating community pride
- Install citation signs or plaques in winning areas — for example, “Best Kept Street 2026”
- Establish an independent judging panel made up of external experts and councillors; and
- Hold a high-profile community event featuring ambassadors and media coverage to showcase the winning neighbourhoods
Cllr Kurt said the initiative would shift part of council’s waste strategy from simply policing bad behaviour to rewarding good stewardship.
“Awards like this can highlight the pride people already take in their streets,” he said. “It’s about encouraging cleaner, greener and more community-minded neighbourhoods across Hume.”
Council officers will now assess the feasibility of the program, including governance, judging criteria, costs, and sponsorship opportunities. A full report is expected to return to council in April 2026.