An environmental program developed by the City of Charles Sturt in South Australia recently won a United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Award. Council’s Reducing Energy Through Partnerships: Local Government Industry Sector program won the Local Government category for the Best Specific Environmental Initiative. Council received the award at a ceremony held in Melbourne in June.
Charles Sturt Mayor, Harold Anderson, acknowledged the work of Council’s Environmental Management Planner, Dianne Vivian, who instigated the program.
“We are very proud of the success that Dianne has achieved on behalf of the City,” Councillor Anderson said. “This is the highest honour a Council can receive for its work in dealing with environmental concerns.”
More than 3,000 businesses operate in Charles Sturt and analysis undertaken as part of the Cities for Climate Protection Program showed that they were a major source of the City’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Reducing Energy Through Partnerships program, jointly conducted with Pierlite Pty Ltd and Clipsal/Gerard Industries, reduced the greenhouse gas emissions of 30 small to medium sized local companies.
Dianne Vivian said that prior to the program’s introduction, the companies emitted 23,879 tonnes of carbon dioxide and had a combined energy bill of $2.76 million a year.
The Australian Greenhouse Office funded the project, which was completed between April 2000 and June 2001. With the assistance of Council, they have saved 2,711 tonnes of carbon dioxide and $300,000 a year in annual energy costs. She believes the project is the first of its kind in Australia and is a leading example for other Councils.
“This project shows that Local Government, in partnership with industry, can help medium and smaller businesses reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and increase their energy efficiency.”
The Environment Day Awards for Local Government recognise Councils that show leadership in environmental management, or in specific conservation initiatives.
For further information contact Dianne Vivian, email dvivian@charlessturt.sa.gov.au or telephone (08) 8408 1204.
