Council's national sustainable recognition

Council's national sustainable recognition

Published on 15 July 2019

Gannawarra Shire Council’s efforts to improve its environmental sustainability have received national recognition.   Council is a finalist in the Environmental Leadership and Sustainability category of the 2019 LG Professionals Australia National Federation Awards.   The accolade recognises Council’s Sustainable Gannawarra initiative, which included the following:

Council’s sustainable practices of bulk solar installations; Retrofitting lighting to incorporate LED technology; Installation of HVAC timers on and in Council-owned buildings; Changing 80W mercury vapour streetlights to an LED alternative; Changes to waste services, which included the introduction of a green waste collection, increasing the recycling rate, and further diverting waste from landfill; Partnering with a local farm enterprise in the development of a joint venture solar array to trial power an irrigation pumping system to reduce costs and environmental impacts of inefficient diesel engines; Purchase of solar arrays from Bendigo and Ballarat-based solar trial sites which have been recycled and installed at Kerang’s Sir John Gorton Library; and Support large-scale solar infrastructure investment in the municipality.

“Council continues to be a leader in relation to environmental sustainability efforts, evident by winning the Premier’s Regional Recognition Award in the 2018 Premier’s Sustainability Award and the Sustainability Initiative title at LGPro’s 2019 Awards for Excellence,” Mayor Lorraine Learmonth said.   “These initiatives that make up the Sustainable Gannawarra program are ensuring Council is meeting its goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 10 per cent, outlined in the Gannawarra Shire Council Plan 2017-2021.   “Council congratulates its staff members involved in the initiative, as well as the other finalists vying for these awards.”

Winners of the 2019 LG Professionals Australia National Federation Awards will be announced at a gala dinner in Darwin on Thursday, 1 August.

CAPTION: Council's Environmental Officer, Katina Fitzgerald (left), Economic Development Manager, Roger Griffiths, Chief Executive Officer, Tom O'Reilly and Director of Infrastructure and Development, Geoff Rollinson amongst the solar arrays at Kerang's Sir John Gorton Library.