Keep Australia Beautiful has announced the finalists for the inaugural Australian Sustainable Cities Awards 2007. The Sustainable Cities program is part of the Keep Australia Beautiful ‘Australian Sustainable Communities’ Awards, which comprise Tidy Towns, Sustainable Cities and Clean Beaches.
The winning State and Territory entries, who will now compete for the national title, are detailed below.
ACT – Australian Ethical Investment for Trevor Pearcey House
This project involved the detailed application of sustainability principles to the design and construction of the refurbishment of an existing commercial building. The project embodied energy and sustainability footprints in the selection of all materials and work methods used on the project.
NSW – Randwick City Council
Randwick City Council has addressed climate change and protected its fragile marine and coastal environments, while fostering the involvement of residents, schools and businesses. This has resulted in a reduction of 2,000 tonnes in CO2 emissions through its home energy makeover program, as well as Council saving 20 million litres of water and 20 per cent in its energy consumption.
QLD – City of Brisbane
Brisbane City Council has developed the Brisbane Plan for Action on Climate Change and Energy. This will move Council towards its target of a 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon neutrality by 2026.
Since the introduction of water restrictions in May 2005, Brisbane residents have also saved 100 billion litres of water through rebates, waterwise service, integrated water strategy and more.
SA – City of Port Augusta
Port Augusta City Council is the driest City, in the driest State, on the driest continent on earth, so water conservation is of high priority. Council recently completed an innovative ‘sewer mining’ project. Raw sewage from SA Water’s sewerage system infrastructure in the City area is used to produce quality filtered Class B reclaimed water for use on parks and ovals. Recycled water from Council’s Wastewater Treatment plant is also being used extensively throughout Council owned developments.
TAS – City of Burnie
In the mid 1980s Burnie received national attention following a media article describing Burnie as ‘Australia’s Dirtiest Town’. This was followed by a Midnight Oil song highlighting Burnie’s dirty industrial status, using the image of polluted beaches from a paint pigmentation plant and smoke stacks spewing sulphur fumes.
Burnie has now moved on. The paint pigment factory has closed, and the remediation of this site has received national and international acclaim. A selection of it is now earmarked to become one of Australia’s first eco residential developments. The changes to the city and its environment have resulted in Burnie being Tasmania’s Tidiest Town in 2000 and 2005.
VIC – Melton Shire Council
Melton Shire contains a large section of designated green wedge land, yet rainfall in the area is only 400 to 600 millilitres per year. To try to ensure an adequate water supply for the area, Council met with Western Water Management to develop a plan that would see most of the water from the Sunbury Treatment Plant piped 30 kilometres to Melton. The Class B water has assisted the survival of many agribusinesses in the region, and has resulted in new jobs and economic growth.
WA – National Lifestyle
Villages for Bridgewater Village, Mandurah National Lifestyle Villages’ (NLV) environmental management strategies, incorporate biodiversity protection; energy efficiency; atmospheric, water and waste management; sustainable transportation; light and noise pollution prevention, monitoring and evaluation. Murdoch University estimates that NLV homes can use 50 per cent less energy, 62 per cent less water and can reduce waste to landfill by 82 per cent per household when compared to an average Perth home.
Entries from each of the national finalists were submitted across ten categories, including Community Action, Heritage and Culture, Environmental Innovation, Water Conservation, Litter Prevention, Resource Recovery, Community Partnership, Protection of the Environment, Young Legends and Dame Phyllis Frost Award.
The national winner will be announced at the Sustainable Cities Awards weekend, which will be held in Canberra from 26 to 28 October 2007.
For further information contact Lara Shannon, KAB National Publicity Manager, on (03) 9592 4001 or laras@kab.org.au
