Published on Saturday, 13 June 2026 at 7:14:41 PM

Dowerin Reaches Road Safety Milestone with Consecutive State Awards and Top 5 Ribbon Status

The Shire of Dowerin is celebrating another major achievement in road safety, securing State-level recognition for the second consecutive year through the WALGA RoadWise Recognised Awards program.

After receiving the inaugural WA RoadWise Council Perpetual Trophy in 2025 for recording the largest increase in road safety activity across all RoadWise Councils in Western Australia, the Shire has once again been recognised in 2026 for its ongoing commitment to safer roads and stronger road safety outcomes for the community.

Adding to this achievement, Dowerin has now attained the highest possible 5 Ribbon Status, a distinction that recognises councils that have demonstrated road safety action across all areas of the RoadWise Framework. The Ribbon system measures how comprehensively road safety is embedded across an organisation's governance, management, planning, workplace practices and community engagement activities. Only councils demonstrating a truly whole-of-organisation approach achieve the maximum five ribbons.

Shire President Cr Darrel Hudson said the recognition reflects years of consistent effort by staff, Councillors and community members.

"Receiving State recognition for a second consecutive year is something our community can be incredibly proud of. For a small regional shire to be recognised alongside much larger local governments demonstrates that commitment, collaboration and consistency matter."

"Road safety is not achieved through a single project or campaign. It comes from hundreds of decisions and actions across the organisation and the community. This award recognises that collective effort."

Cr Hudson said achieving 5 Ribbon Status was particularly significant because it recognised road safety as an organisation-wide responsibility.

"The 5 Ribbon Status confirms that road safety is being considered across all aspects of our operations – from governance and planning through to workplace practices and community education. It shows that road safety has become part of our culture rather than a standalone initiative."

The RoadWise Recognised program encourages local governments across Western Australia to implement evidence-based road safety initiatives and continuously improve their approach to reducing death and serious injury on local roads. Points are awarded throughout the year for road safety actions, with annual awards and ribbon statuses recognising leadership and achievement.

"Every person deserves to arrive home safely. While awards are appreciated, the real achievement is contributing to safer roads for our residents, visitors, farmers, workers and families. We thank everyone who has played a part in this success and look forward to continuing that work."

The Shire of Dowerin remains committed to working with RoadWise, WALGA and the local community to continue building a safer road network for all road users.

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