City’s Green Achievers celebrated

GEELONG’S grassroots volunteers have been recognised for their tireless efforts to enhance the region’s environment at the City of Greater Geelong’s inaugural Community Green Achiever Awards.

The city established the awards to recognise community-led action that supports the council’s Environment Strategy, promotes environmental sustainability and helps protect Geelong’s natural environment.

Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher said the initiative celebrated innovations addressing climate change, waste reduction, biodiversity and water conservation.

“There are so many passionate volunteers who are improving our region’s environmental sustainability via their tireless work,” Cr
Asher said.

“While the award winners have been primarily recognised for their local efforts, they are making substantial impacts nationally and internationally.”

There were five winners in the awards’ first year.

Climate Action Award (joint): Mik Aidt – Climate Emergency Campaign

Recognising the need for a bold call to arms, Mr Aidt established the Climate Emergency Declaration website in 2016.

He aimed to create public pressure on governments to declare a climate emergency and to take serious action to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
The initiative has since been adopted across the world and more than 1840 jurisdictions in 32 countries have declared a climate emergency.

Climate Action Award (joint): Geelong Sustainability – Sustainable House Day

By showcasing local examples, Sustainable House Day educates the community on how to create homes that are cheaper to power, provide more thermal comfort and have lower carbon emissions.

In response to COVID-19 restrictions, the annual event was delivered virtually in 2020.

Waste Reduction Award: Lids 4 Kids – Plastic lids from landfill

The small volunteer group that collects plastic bottle tops for recycling into new products.

They have already sourced, cleaned and sorted more than one million lids in 2021, which have been sent to production centres where they help make new products.

Biodiversity Award: Andrea Dennett – Conservation of the hooded plover

A founding leader of the Friends of the Hooded Plover Bellarine, Andrea Dennett has coordinated and cared for the group’s volunteers for almost 14 years.

Her leadership has made a significant contribution to Birdlife Australia’s Threatened Beach-nesting Birds program, which aims to protect the threatened species.

Birdlife Australia data states hooded plover breeding success rates have improved from two per cent to 55 per cent due to programs such as this one.

Water Conservation Award: Friends of Waurn Ponds Creek

The Friends of Waurn Ponds Creek volunteer group undertake regular working bees to improve the health and environmental value of the creek corridor.

The group regularly removes rubbish, dumped furniture and other items from the creek at fortnightly working bees.

The city has entered the award winners in the Keep Victoria Beautiful Sustainable Cities Awards and hopes to host them at the awards presentation later in the year.

For more information, head to the City of Greater Geelong’s website.