The New South Wales Tidy Towns Awards were held in Parkes this October, celebrating the many community-led initiatives making a difference across the state. The Upper Hunter was well represented, with Singleton named the winner of Population Category D and up against Coomba Park, Forbes and Orange for the New South Wales Tidy Towns 2025 title.
While missing out to Orange for the award, those representing the projects across the State were delighted to learn about the many projects helping the communities socially and environmentally.
Since 1981, the Tidy Towns program has recognised and celebrated outstanding efforts to protect and enhance the environment across NSW. From reducing litter and minimising waste, to promoting local heritage, biodiversity and community spirit, the program showcases how grassroots action and innovative thinking can create lasting impact.
For Singleton, that spirit of community collaboration has long been at the heart of its success. In 2002, a special partnership began between Singleton Tidy Towns and Glencore’s Bulga Coal – one that continues today.
For several years, Bulga Coal has supported the Adopt a Road project through their Community Investment Program. This project was an idea from Singleton Tidy Towns and started with the Adopt a Spot program where volunteers would identify a place, maybe a park or community space, that they would keep free from litter.
Realising that there were roadsides that also required a litter retrieval, the Adopt a Road Project evolved from conversations by Singleton Tidy towns members. Singleton then coordinated sponsorship and community groups with capacity to collect roadside rubbish on a regular basis.
Bulga Coal has since provided several community grants to help these volunteers maintain their efforts. The project has gone on to receive three separate awards at State presentations by Keep Australia Beautiful.
At Singleton Tidy Towns’ annual thank you lunch, Bulga Coal’s Environment and Community Manager, Ralph Northey, was moved by the dedication of the volunteers who give their time to keep roadsides and public areas clean. Inspired by their example, Ralph and another Bulga Coal staff member joined in at the next clean-up, collecting rubbish alongside the volunteers. He’s even brought along his family, showing his personal belief in the project’s value.
The initiative has since been adopted by many other Tidy Towns and sustainability groups across NSW and beyond.
Singleton Tidy Towns President Lyn MacBain is humbled that a sponsor backs their work in more than just name.
“Ralph and Glencore don’t just hand out the donation, they believe in what we are doing and want to help,” Lyn said.
“Tidy Towns’ philosophy is not just about picking up litter and keeping the environment clean, it is about community connection, identifying the social and environmental gaps and coming up with initiatives to address these many, diverse situations.
“We can all do something in our own little ways and Ralph and Glencore, coming along, understanding what we are doing and physically supporting us is something very special and we cannot thank the company, Ralph and his team of volunteers enough.”
Image caption: Singleton Tidy Towns members Diana Thorning and Lyn MacBain with Bulga Coal’s Environment and Community Manager Ralph Northey.
