LGIAsuper supports those going 'Above and Beyond' in Local Government

Nicholas Sabatino of Torres Shire Council has been named recipient of the prestigious LGIAsuper Above and Beyond Award at the 2019 LGMA Queensland Awards for Excellence.

The LGMA Qld Awards for Excellence recognise the tireless work and outstanding achievements of leaders in Queensland local government. Each year, nominees are handpicked as representatives who inspire innovation, drive and professionalism in their various fields. 

LGIAsuper is proud to sponsor the Above and Beyond award which is given to an individual who has exceeded expectations and performed an additional service to the benefit of their local council. We’ve supported local communities for 53 years and know these kinds of selfless actions exemplify the resourcefulness and dedication of Queensland local government.

Nicholas Sabatino from Torres Shire Council was awarded the prize in recognition of his contribution to his community and council and was the standout in a competitive field of nominees. 

As Manager of Utilities at Torres Shire Council, Nicholas is responsible for the quality and supply of water for areas including Waiben (Thursday Island), Ngarupai (Horn Island), Muralug (Prince of Wales Island) and Keriri (Hammond Island).

During 2018, issues were identified with the water quality that had an impact on the dialysis treatment at the regional hospital. This resulted in council issuing boiled water alerts.

As is inevitable with water supply, small faults and breakdowns happen. For most councils, this means someone has to drive to the facility and communicate with experts to find a solution. In order to keep the water supply going, Nicholas hopped in a small boat on multiple occasions and often in the middle of the night to travel across the choppy Torres Strait to get to the plant where he would troubleshoot and fix the issues.

Unable to resolve the problem locally, Nicholas went above and beyond by flying to Adelaide to inspect a water treatment system which could be commissioned and solve the issue. This was made possible with Queensland Government funding. Once approved, he then worked tirelessly to ensure the temporary plant was installed and kept operational.

He gave up Christmas with his family to work on the commissioning of the new plant – all because he wanted to ensure that his community had the luxury of clean, stable drinking water which many of us take for granted.

LGIAsuper Chief Growth Officer Andrea Peters had the honour of presenting the award and expressed her belief in the importance of recognising leaders in local communities.

“It’s very inspiring to meet some of the extraordinary Queenslanders working in local government. The stories of these hardworking Queenslanders are nothing short of exceptional. On behalf of LGIAsuper, I am proud to recognise their passion, resilience and desire to do better for their community. They set the benchmark for the rest of us and are an inspiration to all.”.

Nicholas joins a long list of award recipients who are fashioning the future of Queensland local government. LGIAsuper is proud to stand behind these individuals and recognise their achievements. Thank you to all entrants.