Media Release: Cath Newell

CERES has won the Education category in this year’s Victorian Premier’s Sustainability Awards for their 35 year commitment to community-based learning and action.

CERES is the largest deliverer of environmental education in Australia. Programs benefit participants, their families, the community and the environment based on the adoption of sustainable practices, behaviour change and sustainable career choices.

For many years, CERES has been a place for community-based learning and action that creates environmental, social, economic, and cultural benefits and enhance nurturing ways of living together.

Driven by a passion to educate for sustainability and the need to act now, CERES educators impart skills in living sustainably within and beyond their demonstration site ¬ an urban oasis in Melbourne’s East Brunswick.

Melbourne company, eWater Systems, won the night’s top honour – the Premier’s Recognition Award – for developing water splitting technology which is used to clean and sanitise facilities such as hospitals, schools, manufacturing businesses and restaurants chemical free.

The Premier’s Regional Recognition Award was presented by the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Lily D’Ambrosio to Exemplar Health, which developed Bendigo’s new hospital, regional Victoria’s largest.

The project integrates sustainable thinking into all elements of the site’s design, construction and systems to create a healing and therapeutic environment.

Sustainability Victoria’s interim Chief Executive, Stephanie Ziersch, said the awards showed how management of environmental issues was of growing importance for not just individuals, but businesses.

“Each year, the Premier’s Sustainability Awards continue to discover Victoria’s best and most inspiring Victorian individuals, organisations and businesses which are developing and implementing new sustainable practices.”

“Congratulations to all of this year’s winners. Your contributions will have positive long-term effects on our society and our way of life.”

The 2017 Victorian Premier’s Sustainability Awards winners are:

Built Environment

Nightingale Housing – Nightingale 1 (Brunswick)

The Nightingale model is a new housing development system that enables like-minded architects to develop design-led, multi-residential housing that is environmentally, financially and socially sustainable.

Community

The Nature Conservancy Australia – Shuck Don’t Chuck Recycling Project (Greater Geelong)

A reef restoration project that is regenerating the natural environment by rebuilding shellfish reefs with leftover oyster shells collected from local seafood restaurants.

Education

CERES – Sustainability and Alternative Pathways (East Brunswick)

This sustainability leader celebrates 35 years of community-based learning and action. CERES’ work benefits the environment, is socially just, economically and culturally satisfying and helps to deliver better ways of living together.

Environmental Justice

Friends of the Earth – Coal and Gas Free Victoria (Collingwood)

An awareness campaign run across regional Victoria through more than 100 forums alerts communities to the potential threat of fracking and addresses the question of unconventional gas drilling.

Environmental Protection

Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park – Orange-bellied Parrot Breeding for Recovery Program (Mornington Peninsula)

Development of a 20-aviary complex for up to 40 breeding birds resulted in 25 offspring from 12 pairs in the first season. The project is helping to save this endangered species from extinction.

Government

Moreland City Council – Moreland Urban Heat Island Effect Action Plan (Moreland)

A 2016–2026 plan sets a clear approach for Council. It maps out vital projects needed for Moreland to transition to a cooler, greener and more resilient and liveable city.

Health

Western Health – Single Use Metal Instruments Recycling Program (St Albans)

This program recycles single-use metal instruments (SUMIs) which are an obvious waste of high-quality metals. The program has recovered around 500kgs of recycled steel, representing approximately 80% of all SUMIs purchased. This project can be used in any hospital.

Innovative Products or Services

eWater Systems – eWater Systems (South Yarra)

eWater Systems is a world-recognised company that has developed a ‘water-splitting’ technology that is used to clean and sanitise facilities like hospitals, schools, manufacturing businesses and restaurants.

Large Business

Exemplar Health (NBH) Partnership – New Bendigo Hospital (Bendigo)

Victoria’s largest regional hospital integrates sustainable thinking into all elements of its design, construction and systems to create a healing and therapeutic environment.

Small and Medium Enterprises

Kingfield Galvanizing – Sustainable Hot Dip Galvanizer (Somerton)

A large, sustainable and highly automated galvanizing plant produces significantly low emissions through a fully enclosed facility that re-uses waste, reclaims furnace heat and recycles.

For more information visit www.sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au