SUBMISSIONS CLOSE FRIDAY, 31 JULY 2026

2026 Stormwater NSW Awards For Excellence

The Franc.2026 Awards for Excellence celebrate the outstanding achievements, innovation and leadership that are shaping the future of our industry. We invite organisations, project teams and individuals to nominate initiatives, projects and professionals who have demonstrated excellence, delivered measurable impact, and advanced best practice within their field. Whether recognising groundbreaking projects, innovative approaches, outstanding leadership or emerging talent, the Awards for Excellence provide an opportunity to showcase success, share knowledge and acknowledge those making a significant contribution to the industry. Explore the award categories below and submit your nomination to be recognised among the industry's leading achievers.

Nominations close Friday, 31 July 2026.

The Awards will be presented on the evening of Wednesday, 28 October, as part of the Franc.2026 Conference.

To view the entry kit, please click on the image below.

Download the Entry Kit

Nominate for an Award

Award Categories

Excellence in Strategic or Master Planning

This Award recognises excellence in strategic or master planning in development of integrated stormwater management.

Excellence in Strategic or Master Planning

This Award recognises excellence in strategic or master planning in development of integrated stormwater management.

Examples of projects that would be eligible for consideration in this category include, but are not limited to:

· Site or precinct master/ conceptual layout plans.

· Regional or catchment strategies / plans, including

infrastructure plans.

· Integrated Water Management Plans.

View the Entry Kit

Excellence in Infrastructure

This Award recognises excellence in stormwater infrastructure projects that have been delivered and are now operational.

Excellence in Infrastructure

This Award recognises excellence in stormwater infrastructure projects that have been delivered and are now operational.

Examples of projects that would be eligible for consideration in this category include,

but are not limited to:

· Flood protection / mitigation works.

· A stormwater harvesting and/or managed aquifer recharge

scheme.

· A retrofit or restoration project, such as waterway rehabilitation.

· A stormwater management system for a development, which may

incorporate treatment measures such as constructed wetlands or bioretention systems.

· Any combination of the above to achieve an integrated system.

View the Entry Kit

Excellence in Asset Management

This Award recognises excellence in the management of stormwater infrastructure in order to encourage and promote improved asset management planning and practices.

Excellence in Asset Management

This Award recognises excellence in the management of stormwater infrastructure in order to encourage and promote improved asset management planning and practices.

Stormwater Australia considers asset management a vital component of the lifecycle of stormwater infrastructure. Effective asset management prolongs the life cycle of stormwater systems and helps ensure they meet required levels of service. While systems, processes and techniques to manage stormwater assets have advanced, significant improvements are still possible. This is particularly the case with stormwater infrastructure, such as swales, bioretention systems and wetlands, which involve a “green” infrastructure component.

Examples of projects that would be eligible for consideration in this category include, but are not limited to:

· Programs and/ or plans that set out approaches and strategies

to manage stormwater assets.

· Programs that undertake management of stormwater infrastructure, including maintenance or renewal programs.

· Projects that improve the management of data relating to stormwater assets.

· Projects that improve the process of handing over stormwater

infrastructure from developers to council so that the infrastructure is in a functional state.

· Projects that employ innovative methods or approaches to asset management.

View the Entry Kit

Excellence in Strategic or Master Planning

This Award recognises excellence in strategic or master planning in development of integrated stormwater management.

Examples of projects that would be eligible for consideration in this category include, but are not limited to:

· Site or precinct master/ conceptual layout plans.

· Regional or catchment strategies / plans, including

infrastructure plans.

· Integrated Water Management Plans.

View the Entry Kit

Excellence in Research and Innovation

This Award recognises excellence in research and innovation that fills knowledge gaps and/or addresses information or technology needs which lead to improvements in the sustainable use and management of stormwater.

Excellence in Research and Innovation

This Award recognises excellence in research and innovation that fills knowledge gaps and/or addresses information or technology needs which lead to improvements in the sustainable use and management of stormwater.

Examples of projects that would be eligible for consideration in this category include, but are not limited to:

● Scientific research and validation.

● New technologies (including products and software) used in

stormwater management planning, design, construction or maintenance.

View the Entry Kit

Excellence in Policy or Education

This Award

recognises excellence in policy/regulation,

and educational programs/activities that facilitate or accelerate the uptake of

stormwater management principles and practises that lead to the sustainable use

and management of stormwater.

Excellence in Policy or Education

This Award recognises excellence in policy/regulation, and

educational programs/activities that facilitate or accelerate the uptake of stormwater management principles and practices that lead to the sustainable use and management of stormwater.

Examples of projects that would be eligible for consideration in this category include, but are not limited to:

● Capacity building projects.

● Community focussed education programs.

● Policy or regulation that accelerates the uptake of best practice.

View the Entry Kit

Excellence in Integrated Stormwater Design

This Award

recognises excellence in integration of stormwater into the urban environment.

It is intended to promote the use of integrated design principles and to

acknowledge design lead stormwater projects.

Excellence in Integrated Stormwater Design

This Award recognises excellence in integration of stormwater into the urban environment. It is intended to promote the use of integrated design principles and to acknowledge design lead stormwater projects. These projects, which may be at any scale, deliver quality outcomes for amenity, recreational, biodiversity and functional elements of stormwater systems. The award recognises projects that have been constructed.

Examples of projects that would be eligible for consideration in this category include, but are not limited to:

● Stormwater treatment/ flood mitigation within public spaces.

● Linear waterway corridors that encompass multiple aspects of

stormwater management.

● Restoration projects, improving aquatic ecosystems and creating liveable spaces.

● Stormwater integrated into urban design layout incorporating aesthetics and recreation.

● Any combination of the above to achieve an integrated system.

View the Entry Kit

Young Stormwater Professional of

the Year

This Award confers recognition for outstanding

stormwater achievements for a stormwater practitioner with less than 5 years of

experience (post-graduate or post-employment in the field).

Young Stormwater Professional of the Year

This Award confers recognition for outstanding stormwater achievements for a stormwater practitioner with less than 5 years of experience (post-graduate or post-employment in the field). This award must be nominated by a party other than the nominee. Self-nominations will not be accepted. It will acknowledge and reward young stormwater practitioners who have:

1. Technical and professional stormwater management competence

2. Demonstrated leadership skills including leadership of teams

3. Positive/notable outcomes from their stormwater work

4. Creativity/innovation

5. Community service to industry, the profession and/or society

View the Entry Kit

Stormwater Professional of

the Year

This Award confers recognition for outstanding

stormwater achievements for a stormwater practitioner with more than 5 years of

experience (post-graduate or post-employment in the field).

Stormwater Professional of the Year

This Award confers recognition for outstanding achievement and contribution to the stormwater industry by an experienced

stormwater practitioner. The award acknowledges individuals who have

demonstrated excellence in stormwater management through technical expertise, leadership, innovation and service to the industry, profession and community.

The award recognises stormwater professionals who have:

1. Demonstrated technical and professional excellence in stormwater management.

2. Provided leadership within their organisation, projects and/or the broader stormwater industry.

3. Achieved positive and measurable outcomes through their stormwater work.

4. Demonstrated innovation, creativity and forward-thinking approaches to stormwater challenges.

5.Contributed to the advancement of the stormwater profession through mentoring, knowledge sharing, advocacy and/or industry service.

View the Entry Kit