THE Lautoka City Council achieved another milestone after winning the Clean and Green Town Award during the Local Government Awards Night in Lautoka on Friday night.
The Sugar City maintained its number one spot after winning the same award last year.
LCC chief executive officer Jone Nakauvadra said winning the top award for two consecutive years showed the commitment and hard work of the council's staff members.
He said to topple other municipalities as the cleanest town in Fiji was a milestone for the council.
Mr Nakauvadra dedicated the achievement to the hardworking staff members of the council and to the people of Lautoka as a whole.
"We are humbled and grateful to win this top award for two consecutive years and this speaks volumes of the hard efforts of the staff members," he said.
"This is an achievement in itself and I also dedicate the win to all the people of Lautoka.
"The award will also inspire the staff members to lift their performance to another notch for 2013 and to maintain our number one spot.
"I know all other municipalities will try hard to dethrone us from the top position but I am optimistic that we will do better for this year."
Local Government Minister Colonel Samuela Saumatua said the objective of the awards night was to ensure that all municipal councils were environmentally clean, sustainable and safe.
He also congratulated the winners for their efforts in maintaining a clean environment for its citizens to enjoy.
"I note that a lot of efforts have been done by all councils to progress and upgrade the state of cleanliness of your central business districts," he said.
"Some of the councils have improved a lot in the beautification of your cities and towns as evident in the landscaping that you have undertaken.
"This has really upheld the Green Town concept which is good and healthy environmentally and also contributes to climate resilience," he said.
List of Winners:
Small Towns: Winner-Tavua
2nd place: Sigatoka
Most improved: Levuka
Medium Towns: Winner: Ba
2nd place: Savusavu
Most improved: Labasa
Large Towns: Winner: Lautoka
2nd place: Suva
Most improved: Nausori
Special Awards
Climate Change Resilience Award: Lami
Initiative Award: Rakiraki
Landscaping Initiative outside CBD Award: Nasinu