Campbelltown City Council in New South Wales has been recognised for its commitment to sustainability at the Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Excellence in the Environment Awards.
Council’s ‘Sustainable Council Program’ won the Local Sustainability category of the awards, held in October.
The award recognises outstanding achievement by a NSW council to implement ecologically sustainable development and to strive for a sustainable future for their local community.
The program includes two main elements: a sustainability strategy – the umbrella for a suite of strategic plans and policies to coordinate the development, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of sustainability across Council; and, a culture change program led by a Sustainability Committee, which aims to educate, inspire, support and involve staff.
LGNSW has been celebrating the work of councils in managing and protecting the environment on behalf of their communities since 1997 and this year projects, programs and people are being recognised across 14 categories.
Mayor of Campbelltown George Brticevic congratulated staff on their success, saying Council was proud to have an important and successful program acknowledged with such a prestigious award.
“The Sustainable Council Program achievements have been significant, and include the establishment of a self-sustaining fund to support sustainability projects, the development of policies to guide sustainable decisions, the installation of a series of large-scale solar systems across Council’s largest energy consuming facilities, and numerous staff campaigns to encourage sustainable work behaviours,” he said.
“The program’s success has also highlighted the value of having a multi-disciplinary team made up of staff from across Council to drive cultural change, and to increase the stewardship of sustainable strategies, projects, policies and procedures.”
Council’s prize includes an overseas study tour or a professional development program for Council staff valued at $10,000.
