A central highlight of the conference proceedings was the staging of the 2026 Stormwater NSW Awards for Excellence presentation on Wednesday evening, followed by the vibrant franc.fest: Ocean Odyssey. These prestigious awards celebrate outstanding innovation, design, asset stewardship and professional dedication across New South Wales.
In accordance with national association protocols, state award recipients automatically advance as finalists to represent New South Wales at the biannual Stormwater Australia National Awards for Excellence in 2027. Stormwater Australia and Stormwater NSW congratulate all finalists and recipients:
Congratulations to all our Stormwater NSW finalists and winners and thank you to our Platinum Awards Sponsor J Wyndham Prince.
Excellence in Asset Management
Finalists:
- The NSW SQID Taskforce – Lifecycle Sub-Committee: Whole-of-Life Safety, Constructability, and Maintenance Framework — NSW SQID Taskforce
- Transforming WSUD compliance through integrated digital asset management — Blacktown City Council
- Driving Integrated Asset Management for Sustainable Stormwater Systems in Rapidly Growing Urban Catchments — Blacktown City Council and E2Designlab – A Water Technology Company
Highly Commended:
- Driving Integrated Asset Management for Sustainable Stormwater Systems in Rapidly Growing Urban Catchments — Blacktown City Council and E2Designlab – A Water Technology Company
Winner:
- The NSW SQID Taskforce – Lifecycle Sub-Committee: Whole-of-Life Safety, Constructability, and Maintenance Framework — NSW SQID Taskforce
Excellence in Integrated Stormwater Design
Finalists:
- Gedumba Sweetwater project — Blue Mountains City Council, Gully Traditional Owners, WaterNSW
- Sandhills Wetlands - Byron Bay — Australian Wetlands Consulting and Planit Consulting
Highly Commended:
- Sandhills Wetlands - Byron Bay — Australian Wetlands Consulting and Planit Consulting
Winner:
- Gedumba Sweetwater project — Blue Mountains City Council, Gully Traditional Owners, WaterNSW
Excellence in Policy or Education
Finalists:
- Hide & Go Creek – Changing Stormwater Pollution Behaviour Through Play, Place and Augmented Reality — Hornsby Shire Council
- National WSUD Compliance Network — Ocean Protect
- The Stormwater 2030 Advocacy and Engagement Program — Stormwater 2030 Ltd
- Water Sensitive Urban Design Uplift Project — Parramatta River Catchment Group, Blacktown City Council and E2 Design Lab - A Water Technology Company
Highly Commended:
- Water Sensitive Urban Design Uplift Project — Parramatta River Catchment Group, Blacktown City Council and E2 Design Lab - A Water Technology Company
Winner:
- Hide & Go Creek – Changing Stormwater Pollution Behaviour Through Play, Place and Augmented Reality — Hornsby Shire Council
Excellence in Research and Innovation
Winner:
Reforming Stormwater Product Verification & National Governance Structures — New South Wales Stormwater Quality Improvement Device (SQID) Taskforce
Excellence in Strategic or Master Planning
Finalists:
- Big plans for Little Creek waterway masterplan — Blacktown City Council
- Ensuring a Water Sensitive Wollondilly — Wollondilly Shire Council
- Catchment and Waterways Strategy — Sutherland Shire Council
Highly Commended:
- Catchment and Waterways Strategy — Sutherland Shire Council
Winner:
- Big plans for Little Creek waterway masterplan — Blacktown City Council
Excellence in Infrastructure
Highly Commended:
- Ree Place, Bidwill - Drainage amplification for flood mitigation — Blacktown City Council and NSW Reconstruction Authority
Stormwater Professional of the Year
Finalists:
- Phillip Birtles — Sydney Water
- David Nixon — Stormwater Services Australia
- Kate Murphy — Blacktown City Council
Winner:
- Phillip Birtles — Sydney Water
Young Stormwater Professional of the Year
Finalists:
- Blake Allingham — Ocean Protect
- Richard Wright — Sutherland Shire Council
Highly Commended:
- Richard Wright — Sutherland Shire Council
Winner:
- Blake Allingham — Ocean Protect
