World Environment Day awards announced

The United Nations Association of Australia has announced the winners of this year’s World Environment Day Awards at a presentation dinner held at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne.

The new Peter Szental Award for Sustainability Entrepreneurship, launched this year in memory of Peter Szental, leading entrepreneur in sustainability and tireless champion of environmental causes, went to the WestWyck Ecovillage. This urban development model, created on the principle of building a village within a city, is now home to more than 30 people in Brunswick West. The project is a market leader for having embedded sustainability principles in its business model as well as its thoughtful use of resources, energy efficiency, generation of renewable energy and comprehensive water management.

Awards were presented across 16 categories to individuals, schools, community groups, businesses and local governments, highlighting top environmental initiatives and programs across Australia.

Amidst strong competition, the new Sustainability Education Award was won by the Heyfield Community Resource Centre for its Sustainable Smart Town Project which encouraged behavioural change and a commitment to sustainable living. Residents and businesses promoted their positive actions through a unique flag system: flying from rooftops across the town, these coloured flags are a source of community pride. The flags sparked curiosity amongst visitors and provided an incentive for change, complementing the resource centre’s provision of practical, convenient and timely information on environmentally sustainable services and products, as well as rebates and subsidies available from both state and federal governments.

The Biodiversity Award was won by the Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation’s Yellow Crazy Ant Management Program. Dhimurru has successfully eradicated the Yellow Crazy Ant, one of the top 100 worst invasive species in the world, from over 21 sites in Arnhem Land over the last five years. This program has set new international standards for the management of invasive species.

Striving to make a significant difference to Australian greenhouse gas emissions by targeting inefficient older fridges and permanently removing them from the electricity network, Fridge Buyback in NSW was awarded the Business Award for Best Specific Environmental Initiative. Equally impressive was ethical clothing company 3Fish, the winner of the Sustainability Leadership Award for Small and Medium Organisations, and Bentleigh Secondary College, winner of the Excellence in Sustainable Water Management Award.

The District Council of Mount Barker won the Local Government Award for Best Specific Environmental Initiative. Established in the early 1990s, the Laratinga Wetland saves 900 megalitres of water per year and recycles 25% of Mt Barker’s annual wastewater. The 12 hectares of lagoons and ponds are also a haven for local wildlife and residents alike.

Having been named finalists in three categories, the Kimberley Toad Busters took out the Community Award for their What’s in Your Backyard? Project. Nearly 80 years since the introduction of the cane toad into Australia, the Kimberley Toad Busters are not only slowing the rate of toads as they advance towards the Kimberley, they are also empowering community members to gather important research data.

Established in 2000, the Awards Program is now in its 12th year and continues to acknowledge action taken at a local level to address global environmental issues.

Other winners included:

• Business Award - Environmental Best Practice Program: BHP Billiton & Thiess Services Pty Ltd for the Hunter River Remediation Project
• Green Building Award: Design Inc Melbourne Pty Ltd for The Gippsland Water Factory Vortex Centre
• Individual Award for Outstanding Service to the Environment: Bob Junor
• Local Government Award - Excellence in Overall Environmental Management: Willoughby City Council for ‘e.restore: Improving our Environment’
• Best Specific Environmental Initiative: The District Council of Mount Barker for Laratinga Wetland
• Excellence in Marine and Coastal Management Award: Victoria's Volunteer Angler Diary Program - Reel Scientists
• Media Award for Environmental Reporting: Eric Campbell, Marianne Leitch, Ron Ekkel and Simon Brynjolffssen, ABC TV Foreign Correspondent for ‘DRC: The Swingers’
• Environmental Schools Award: Bungwahl Public School for ‘From the Garden - Kitchen/Canteen - Classroom’
• WSP Lincolne Scott Sustainability Leadership Award - Large Organisations: National Australia Bank