Environment awards recognise outstanding achievements by NSW local governments
NSW local governments have been recognised for their impressive achievements in managing and protecting the environment.
Local Government NSW’s Excellence in the Environment Awards recently celebrated 31 winners across categories ranging from asbestos management to invasive species management and local sustainability.
Shoalhaven City Council secured the Local Sustainability Award for its leadership by bringing forward its net zero emissions target from 2050 to 2035.
Shoalhaven City Council is well on the way to achieving its target thanks to actions such as a power purchase agreement for more renewables, 25% in 2023 and 50% by 2025, and installing 400kW of solar and battery power generation at more than 25 council-owned halls and community assets.
Shoalhaven is also helping residents to reduce emissions through community workshops, provision of community energy efficiency kits, and the release of the Shoalhaven Sustainable Living Guide.
Wagga City Council won the Climate Change Adaptation Award for its Urban Cooling Strategy. Other notable winners included Blacktown Council, which took out the Water Management Award, Northern Beaches Council, which won the Transition to a Circular Economy Award, and Waverley Council, which won the Sustainable Infrastructure Award.
The winner of the 2023 Louise Petchell Memorial Award for Individual Sustainability is also no stranger to leading and inspiring others.
Anthony Weinberg, of Waverley Council, designed and implemented a number of award-winning and innovative projects such as Solar my School, Solar my Suburb, Energy Smart Cafes, and Leading the Charge (public electric vehicle charging infrastructure).
The Solar my School program has gone beyond the three-council collaboration of Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick to be offered in 13 LGAs working with more than 200 schools.
Image top. Shoalhaven award winners: Michael Paine, Manager - Community Connections, Darren O'Connell, Shoalhaven Water, Pip Hildebrand, Lead - Sustainability, Vince Di Pietro, Recovery into Resilience Project Coordinator. Credit Shoalhaven Council; image above: Oak Flats Public School in the Shellharbour City Council installation of 29kW solar system. Credit: SolarMySchool
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