Council's Stormwater Infrastructure Risk Management initiative received a highly commended in the Operational Risk category for large regional council/metropolitan councils.

Council also received commendations for its Heavy Plant and Equipment Service Improvement Program and its Doing Business With Council initiative in the Operational Risk and Strategic Risk categories respectively.

Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent congratulated staff on their innovation and commitment to excellence.

"These were highly competitive awards involving councils from across the state. It was a fantastic result to see our council receive recognition for a variety of initiatives that have been rolled out last financial year. Council is committed to reducing risk and improving safety for both the community and our staff," he said.

"Doing Business with Council initiative has significantly improved communication with service providers in the local community. This initiative has resulted in improved compliance with risk, safety and procurement requirements by suppliers and contractors.

"Council's Heavy Plant and Equipment Service Improvement Program has enabled verification of operator competence in high risk heavy plant and equipment to nationally recognised standards. Additionally it has increased risk awareness in operators resulting in significantly improved safety culture and service levels.

"Council's holistic approach to stormwater infrastructure risk management has streamlined the way council deals with customer concerns, providing the foundations for future asset growth and development of risk management processes for all council infrastructure."