Darebin City Council’s Going Places travel reward scheme recently won a United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) award. Council was presented with the Best Specific Environmental Initiative award on World Environment Day on 5 June.
The scheme rewards Darebin residents who use public transport, car pooling, walking and cycling to reduce their car usage. Participants agree to make two fewer drive alone trips to work each week and are rewarded with points that can be redeemed for prizes such as travel mugs, Metcards and local shopping vouchers.
Sustainable Transport Coordinator, Kate Myers, said that Council first became interested in encouraging alternative transport modes in 2000 when its Integrated Travel Plan was developed.
“We started internally through the Darebin Green Travel scheme, which kicked off in August 2003,” she said. “When grant funding became available in 2005, we decided to expand the program to include all Darebin residents.”
Although the Green Travel scheme was used as a case study, Going Places has been designed to be more sophisticated and appealing.
“The Victorian Government’s Travel Smart program enabled us to develop software and our website,” Kate said. “MetLink has also contributed by providing Metcards as prizes. They’ve both been involved from the beginning”.
Although the program was created to help the environment, local residents are also reaping the benefits. Many have lost weight and have reduced car running costs. One resident has even sold a car for which he no longer had any use. But all participants, according to Kate Myers, enjoy seeing the difference they’ve made to the environment.
“The figures on the website show how their small input contributes to the larger picture,” she said. “Each individual member has contributed to the 43 tonnes of carbon emissions that have been saved through Going Places.”
The UNAA award adds to the growing cache of environmental gongs the Council has received recently. But despite having over 400 members, and receiving three national awards, Going Places, is still, well, going places.
“We’ve just expanded to include people who commute from other places to work in Darebin, and we plan to target major employers such as La Trobe University, the Department of Human Services and schools to let their employees know that they can join the scheme,” Kate said. “Darebin recognises the important role Councils can play in addressing global issues such as climate change. We’re the lowest tier of Government, so it’s much easier for us to engage with residents and get the message across.”
The Going Places website can be found at www.goingplaces.darebin.vic.gov.au
