A LAKE Macquarie City Council employee who led a program to improve the quality of development applications lodged with the council has won a state award.
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Chief development planner Liz Lambert won an Excellence in Leadership award at the Local Government Week Awards in Sydney on Thursday.
Ms Lambert led the transformation of the DA pre-lodgement service, knowing that improving the pre-lodgement service and encouraging its uptake would improve the quality of DAs lodged.
"It's incredibly humbling to be recognised by your industry and peers," Ms Lambert said.
"It is cliché, but the award belongs to the whole project team, who took on my vision and worked together to develop their own solutions that ultimately benefits our community."
The award for outstanding individual contribution acknowledged Ms Lambert's ability to recognise an opportunity and lead a team to deliver an efficient and highly engaging service that delivered on customer expectations, the council said.
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Council's head of development and planning, Justin Day, said the award was well deserved.
"We're very lucky to have Liz as part of our team at council," Mr Day said.
"She embodies our objectives of collaboration, leadership and improvement, and she knows the motivating power of communicating and reinforcing a shared vision. Liz should be very proud of her award."
The award comes as development continue to boom in Lake Macquarie, with a record $1.24 billion worth of development approvals in the past financial year.
Ms Lambert said the record result reflected ongoing confidence in the city's direction.
"There has been a real push in the past five years to promote and embrace appropriate residential and commercial development in Lake Macquarie," she said.
"Seizing opportunities to welcome new development will attract new residents, keep skills here in the Hunter region, and provide myriad other flow-on benefits."
Judges of the award commented:
"Elizabeth and her team led a committed engagement process, ensuring feedback informed improvement to services. Elizabeth is a worthy recipient and example of excellence in leadership."
