MEDIA RELEASE
NOV 5, 2011
Tidy Towns, Sustainable Communities Awards 2011
Keep Australia Beautiful NSW
Water Conservation Award
The communities of Tottenham, Wyalong/West Wyalong, Tilligerry Peninsula, Armidale and Wagga Wagga came away big winners at the Tidy Towns, Sustainable Communities Awards for 2011 today, all being named winners in their population categories for the important and highly competitive Water Conservation Award.
Other entrants can also be proud of their achievements. Boggabri, Kurri Kurri, Griffith and Orange didn’t walk away empty handed; all were presented with Highly Commended Awards in this category.
The Tidy Towns, Sustainable Communities Awards is the largest practical environmental program for regional NSW. More than a beauty contest, the program celebrates the real, innovative and sustainable efforts of participating rural NSW communities.
The Water Conservation Award recognises communities who see water as our most valuable resource, and who take steps to manage its use effectively. Many high quality projects were entered this year; innovative irrigation models, installation of water efficient machines, wetlands projects, education and training, catchment management and water recycling were all represented.
Keep Australia Beautiful NSW CEO, Peter McLean, said the quality of the projects in the Water Conservation category was outstanding.
“Water is always going to be in issue in many areas of regional NSW, and in recent years rural communities have certainly struggled through drought. That hardship has brought out a pioneering spirit in many, and we see this in the way they are managing our most valuable resource. From small things, like the introduction of water saving washing machines to large scale irrigation projects, this year’s winners have directly impacted on the outlook of their towns. It must be noted that a great deal of work has been performed by groups of volunteers. For these people, water conservation is a way of life, and without them many of these projects could not have gone ahead.” Peter said.
OVERALL TIDY TOWNS, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES WINNER
The big winner of the weekend was Kyogle, taking out the prestigious 2011 Overall State Tidy Towns Award.
Kyogle (population 2800) is located 758km North of Sydney, on the Summerland Way close to the Qld border.
Care of its extraordinary environment is at the heart of this community. Kyogle Tidy Towns Committee is active in a range of advocacy issues and their action plans link in with plans that exist for the Chamber, schools and many Government and Non-Government Organisations. Kyogle Shire Council also has an Environmental Management Plan, developed in consultation with the wider public.
As the Tidy Towns assessor Greg Howling commented, “I found community participation in Kyogle to be both wide in its reach, deep in commitment and inspirational in the quality of its vision. Council and youth combine remarkably well with senior residents to ensure an effective mix of energy, vibrancy and efficiency. The Tidy Towns Committee is worthy of particular commendation for its commitment to ensuring that anyone who has something to offer is able to find a place, encouragement and acknowledgement of their involvement.”
Kyogle will now go up against the Overall State Winners in each State and Territory across Australia for the National judging of the 2011 Australian Tidy Towns, Sustainable Communities Awards.
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Keep Australia Beautiful NSW
Water Conservation Award
Honour Board
POPULATION CATEGORY A: Less than 350
WINNER
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Tottenham for ‘Irrigation at Tottenham Racecourse’
This project demonstrates every aspect of water conservation including expanded water capacity, effluent treatment of water for use, harvesting stormwater, a timed overnight sprinkler system and mulching around planted trees and gardens. The project has allowed for extensive tree planting on the road leading into the racecourse and reduced dust nuisance for both competitors and spectators. It is rare to see a drought proofed, grassed racecourse and grounds in a dry environment like this. Sporting teams in the district enjoy coming to the grassed racecourse grounds. The project has been made possible because of volunteer work, community fund raising and council support.
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POPULATION CATEGORY B: 351 to 1200
HIGHLY COMMENDED (there is no Winner in this category)
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Boggabri for ‘Boggabri Caravan Park Washing Machine’
Narrabri Shire Council owns Boggabri Caravan Park and the park provides a laundry for the use of permanent residents and visitors. Council identified the potential to save water by replacing the top loading washing machines with front loading washing machines. More sites and cabins will increase water demand, but with the changeover of the top load machines to front load washing machines water usage will be minimised.
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POPULATION CATEGORY C: 1201 to 4000
WINNER (there is no HC in this category)
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Wyalong/West Wyalong for ‘Water Recycling’
The Recycled Water and Wetlands Development Project in Wyalong/West Wyalong aims to maximise water efficiency. Streets and storm water drains are designed to run into water storage dams. Council has increased water storage capacity by expanding dams at McCann Park and the Wetlands Development Project. Along with harvested water, effluent water is treated and recycled for use in public parks, gardens, sporting fields and tree planting projects. Pop-up sprinkler systems timed for evening use save water and free up Council staff that spent a lot of time manually shifting sprinklers. The wetland project has multipurpose objectives including water storage, wildlife habitat, education and tourism.
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POPULATION CATEGORY D: 4001 to 10,000
WINNER
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Tilligerry Peninsula for Water wise Garden’
Tilligerry Tidy Towns & Landcare Committee, and Tilligerry Habitat Environment Centre have developed the WATER WISE GARDEN program to encourage water conservation in the garden. Tilligerry Habitat Environment Centre is a community hub for all things environmental, and the group has created a demonstration garden there to demonstrate the concept. The concept of reducing water use in the garden by retaining surface run-off through landscaping, planting native species and reusing storm water is innovative. Native plants are being produced for sale.
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HIGHLY COMMENDED
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Kurri Kurri for ‘Kurri Kurri TAFE Campus We Chose to Reuse’
Kurri Kurri Campus is situated on 130 hectares and is a centre of environmental excellence focussing on sustainable development, sustainable building design, water treatment and pollution control. The computer controlled irrigation system uses effluent purchased from Hunter Water Corporation. Nutrient ponds have been used to water areas used for teaching such as the bowling green, tennis court and nursery area.
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POPULATION CATEGORY E: 10,001 to 25,000
WINNER
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Armidale for Armidale City Bowling Club
Armidale City Bowling Club has on board a passionate sustainability committee. Their water efficiency strategies have resulted in substantial savings and reduced chemical use. Of special interest are the new cotton-coated tablecloths that can be wiped clean - saving 85 litres of water per wash load daily = 30,940 litres saved annually by not washing tablecloths! Simple, yet very effective water management.
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HIGHLY COMMENDED
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Griffith for ‘Home Water Tune Up Project’
This Council-run project, which was funded by a Federal Government grant aims to save 90 ML per year through subsidising the installation of water savings hardware in the homes and businesses of Griffith and the surrounding villages: Showerheads, Tap washers, Tap aerators, Toilets. Progressive data has been collected on completed work, so actual water savings can be estimated. To date that saving is 43ML.
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POPULATION CATEGORY F: 25,000 +
WINNER
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Wagga Wagga for ‘Effluent Recycling’
At its meat processing plant in Wagga Wagga, Cargill Beef is constructing two covered anaerobic lagoons and a biological nutrient removal system for the treatment of waste water generated by the processing of cattle. This will improve waste water quality and allow the capture of methane rich biogas. This project is a model for other industrial processors to emulate.
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HIGHLY COMMENDED
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Orange for ‘Stormwater Catchment Engagement Program’
The Water Quality Catchment Engagement Program is a Business Self-Assessment Toolkit, complete with a resource library, designed to assist local business to design and implement their own water quality management practices. The project provides business with enough incentives to be proactive in water quality management in their operations.
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For further information please contact Carolyn Oakley, Media & Communications Manager on (02) 9633 3380 or coakley@kabnsw.org.au.
For comment and interviews please contact Peter McLean, Chief Executive Officer of Keep Australia Beautiful NSW on 0416 227 158