27 October 2011
KESAB Sustainable Communities Award Winners Announced
|
From left - MP for Taylor, Leesa Vlahos, Barry Maney, Anna Lambden, Greg Muller, KESAB Sustainable Communities Programs Manager - Alex Hammett, KESAB Chairperson - Ashley Watson
|
KESAB Sustainable Communities Award winners were announced today by MP for Taylor, Leesa Vlahos today.
Regional awards were presented to winning towns and communities representing all corners of the State in South Australia’s longest serving and largest community environmental ongoing initiative KESAB has been operating for over 45 years and the Sustainable Communities program recognises environmental sustainability action in communities.
Over 200 category entries in 2011 show case hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours and effort valued at $20 million dollars towards environmental sustainability, action and improvement in the community.
Local projects delivered on ground by rural community’s embraced water and energy conservation, waste diversion, litter reduction and recycling, and bio diversity. Schools, councils, business, community groups and individuals were represented.
Overall winner of the 2011 KESAB Sustainable Communities Awards is Mount Gambier.
This is the 11th time Mount Gambier has won since the inception of the Tidy Towns program in 1978. Mount Gambier has won the National Tidy Towns Award twice, the only place in Australia to do so. They will now go on as the State representative and compete against other State and Territory winners in the Keep Australia Beautiful Australian Sustainable Communities (tidy towns) awards to be held early 2012.
KESAB Executive Director John Phillips said today, “The huge commitment across and array of sustainability projects under the KESAB banner leads Australia. We continue to be amazed at the commitment and innovation by South Australians responding to environmental improvement in hard times”, he said.
“Many activities are local partnerships and show case commitment and action that set a benchmark example of rural communities leading urban South Australia despite remoteness and often with reduced services” he said.
“Sustainable Communities Awards include recycling and litter reduction, tree planting and native vegetation protection, energy conservation and innovation, species and habitat protection and other initiatives that are valued at millions of dollars annually”’ Mr Phillips Said.
26 September 2011
KESAB and Sims metal management launch "METALLIC GREEN"
EXCITING NEW eNEWSLETTER
KESAB environmental solutions is delighted to be working together with Sims Metal Management to further the interest of responsible metal recycling. Today, we are proud to launch the first edition if Metallic Green, an e-newsletter that highlights the important work the world's largest recycler of metal and the beneficial impact the company has on environmental sustainability programs.
Metallic Green will be published regularly and we welcome your feedback on what is one of the most important areas of recycling in our community
To view Metallic Green go to www.kesab.asn.au/metallicgreen
08 8234 7255 or email jphillips@kesab.asn.au
To find out more information about Metallic Green please contact John Phillips;
08 8234 7255 or email jphillips@kesab.asn.au
8 September 2011
SA local communities win grant funding from Keep Australia Beautiful to increase beverage container recycling
Five local communities across South Australia have been awarded a Keep Australia Beautiful Beverage Container Recycling Grant to increase beverage container recycling in their local area.
The Keep Australia Beautiful grants program, funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation, is in its second year with all communities across Australia invited to apply during the call for entries period. Grants range from $3,000 to $10,000 for projects that result in a measurable increase in beverage container recycling in local communities.
Applications were open to community groups, local associations, schools, small to medium enterprises and local government authorities and were awarded for:
- projects which address the specific issue of beverage container recycling and its by-products;
- practical local solutions that can be used as examples for others and leave a legacy;
- projects that do not duplicate existing recycling activities; and
- projects that result in measurable volumes of recycled materials.
A proven ability to implement suitable projects, such as those who have participated in the Keep Australia Beautiful Sustainable Communities Awards - incorporating the Tidy Towns and Sustainable Cities programs, was also taken into account.
For larger communities, the grants provide recycling infrastructure for events, or for special venues such as large retail centres, sporting venues or education centres. In smaller communities, the grants provide assistance with transport or processing to overcome remote location or dispersed population.
In 2010, The Coca-Cola Foundation provided $184,162 for the small grants program to encourage away from home recycling with a total of 26 projects, representing all states and territories, chosen to receive grants.
This year The Coca-Cola Foundation provided a total of $170,000. Across South Australia grants were provided to:
- District Council of Karoonda East Murray, to purchase a trailer for the Lions Clubs of Karoonda & District to transport recyclables within the area;
- District Council of the Copper Coast, to purchase recycling bins to be used at community events, along with a trailer to transport the recyclables;
- Maitland & District Progress Association Inc., to set up a recycling depot where the public can deliver their recyclable beverage containers;
- Adelaide Shores West Beach Trust, to provide recycling and waste infrastructure at all recreational reserves to prohibit recyclable material ending up in landfill; and
- Regional Council of Goyder, to install beverage container recycling infrastructure in all towns within the council area.
KESAB Executive Director, John Phillips OAM, commended the communities on their efforts to encourage everyday sustainable practices.
“Not only are these projects helping local communities become more sustainable, they help ensure that they are recovering materials that can be recycled into new products, saving precious resources and diverting waste from landfill at the same time”, he said.
For media enquiries please contact:
- John Phillips, KESAB Executive Director on 08 8234 7255 or john@kesab.asn.au
- Lara Shannon, KABNA Publicity on 0415 076 015 or laras@kab.org.au
- Alexandra Davy, KABNA Publicity Assistant on (03) 9592 4001 or media@kab.org.au
Editor’s Notes:
Results from the 2010 Beverage Container Recycling Grants
In 2010, 26 projects were awarded funding. Those that have reported results so far show that a total of $130,016.03 in grants resulted in 215,440.08 kilos of recycled material at an average cost of 60c per kilo.
The success of the grants program is not only measured by recycling figures, but also takes into account the increased awareness and promotion of away from home recycling and the ongoing recycling outcomes in the long term due to increased infrastructure and facilities for the local area or event.
About Keep Australia Beautiful
Keep Australia Beautiful seeks to lead, challenge and inspire all Australians to strive for a sustainable and litter free environment. National programs include the Australian Sustainable Community Awards consisting of Tidy Towns and Sustainable Cities; the National Litter Index (results released in August) and Keep Australia Beautiful Week (22-28 August in 2011).
About The Coca-Cola Foundation
The Coca-Cola Company is a local business on a global scale. As our business has expanded over the years, so our community support has grown to create and support projects most relevant to local communities around the globe. We are committed to investing our time, expertise and resources to help develop and maintain vibrant, sustainable and local communities.
Established in 1984 (and wholly funded by The Coca-Cola Company), The Coca-Cola Foundation helps keep that commitment every day by partnering with organizations around the globe to support initiatives and programs that respond in a meaningful way to community needs and priorities.
More information on The Coca-Cola Foundation can be found at http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/foundation.html
6 May 2011
Port Vincent, SA, wins two national category awards at the Australian Clean Beaches Awards
Port Vincent has won the Resource Recovery & Waste Management and Energy Innovation category awards in the Keep Australia Beautiful, Australian Clean Beaches Awards 2010/11.
Port Vincent received highly commended awards in four categories. Highly commended for Young Legends, Water Conservation, Environmental Protection & Innovation and the Dame Phyllis Frost Litter Prevention Award.
The awards were held this afternoon in South Australia, hosted in association with last year’s national winner South Port Beach Noarlunga, represented by South Port Surf Club, other local community groups, and the City of Onkaparinga Council.
Port Vincent, 195km West of Adelaide, has been long known as a holiday playground and is set in a beautiful, sweeping bay looking out over the protected waters of the Gulf of St Vincent. The town has won numerous Tidy Town awards, and in 2004 was voted Australia's "Tidiest Town".
According to the Australian Clean Beaches National Judge, Dr David Moy, the successful collaboration of all stakeholders has contributed to the appeal of Port Vincent as a clean, friendly and developing community.
“The District Council of Yorke Peninsula (DCYP) provides strong support to many community initiatives and groups to help ensure that the coastal community of Port Vincent remains as sustainable as possible.
“It is commendable to see such a wide range of community and service groups, the local school and Coast Guard work alongside Council, the local Progress Association, Tidy Towns Group and Township Committee to protect and preserve the coastline.
“Their collective efforts have helped to dramatically increase local recycling rates and reduce waste in landfill, whilst an innovative approach to energy conservation in many areas has earned them national recognition for their efforts. The voluntary contribution of recyclables by the wider community helps to raise funds to support ongoing community group activities.”, Dr David Moy added.
Chairman of Keep Australia Beautiful National Association, Don Chambers, said “Climate Change impacts such as rising sea levels, on top of other human and environmental stresses, could see many of our coastal systems pushed beyond their tipping point so that the landforms and ecosystems no longer function as they should.”
“The Clean Beaches Awards and their participants provide great examples of what individuals and their communities can achieve in protecting and improving the coastal environment by working together sustainably. Well done to the whole community in and around Port Vincent for your efforts”, Don Chambers added.
Through the Australian Clean Beaches Awards, Keep Australia Beautiful is able to recognise local community and individual efforts that are helping rural and regional communities to become environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.
For further information visit www.kab.org.au
MEDIA CONTACTS:
- KAB National: Lara Shannon - Publicist on 0415 076 015 or laras@kab.org.au Scott Lyall - National Executive on 0419 016 401 or scottl@kab.org.au
- National Judge: Dr David Moy on 0411871460 or davidmoy@optusnet.com.au
- KESAB: Alex Hammett – KESAB environmental solutions – 0413 612 126 or alex@kesab.asn.au
- Port Vincent Rep: Stephen Goldsworthy - District Council of Yorke Peninsula on 0427187839 or stephen.goldsworthy@yorke.sa.gov.au
AUSTRALIAN CLEAN BEACHES AWARDS RESULTS TABLE 2010/11
Category
|
Winner
|
Sponsor
|
Overall
|
Tallebudgera Beach, QLD
|
 |
Community Action & Partnerships
|
Tallebudgera Beach, QLD
|
‘Do the Right Thing’ program of the Packaging Stewardship Forum
|
‘Dame Phyllis Frost’ Litter Prevention
|
Tallebudgera Beach, QLD
|
Keep Australia Beautiful ‘Green Ribbon’ program
|
Resource Recovery & Waste Mgt
|
Port Vincent, SA
|
Steve Parish Beach Calendar
|
Environmental Innovation & Protection
|
Bells Beach, VIC
|
|
Water Conservation
|
Rockingham Beach, WA
|
|
Energy Innovation
|
Port Vincent, SA
|
|
Heritage & Culture
|
Rockingham Beach, WA
|
|
Young Legends
|
Tallebudgera Beach, QLD
|
|
17 April 2011
- Waikerie in SA wins the Energy Innovation category award at the Australian Tidy Towns Awards
The South Australian town of Waikerie has won the Energy Innovation category award at the Keep Australia Beautiful, Australian Tidy Towns Awards 2010/11.
The announcement was made at the national awards ceremony held last night at Beechworth in Victoria, the winner of the prestigious award last year.
The Waikerie Tidy Towns community was also commended for their outstanding efforts in the Environmental Innovation & Protection and Young Legends categories.
According to the Australian Tidy Towns National Judge, Dick Olesinski, the Waikerie Tidy Towns Committee is a well-established group that has gained a high profile due to the dedication and hard work of its member who have embraced a number of conservation programs with enthusiasm.
Highlights earning Waikerie the Energy Innovation category award include a number of proactive measures to reduce greenhouse gases and promote renewable energy sources, as well as the Waikerie education programs designed to inform children about energy and climate change issues and encourage them to participate in power saving projects.
“Environmental education programs are a major focus throughout Waikerie’s education system,” the National Judge Dick Olesinski, said.
“Their passion to promote sustainable practices is further demonstrated by their focus on educating the youth of the community. Schools are strongly focused on environmental programs with innovative approaches to education and developing community partnerships for positive environmental outcomes.
“Waikerie’s residents view energy conservation and the use of renewable fuels as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative. The community is proactively reducing greenhouse emissions through a wide range of initiatives,” he added.
Chairman of Keep Australia Beautiful National Association, Don Chambers, said, “It is always a pleasure to be able to recognise and promote the work that many dedicated individuals and communities are undertaking to protect and preserve their local environment and history.
“Congratulations to the community of Waikerie who have shown great commitment and leadership in local sustainability practices and education,” he added.
Lithgow in New South Wales won the overall national title of Australia’s Tidiest Town for 2010/11.
Through the Australian Tidy Towns Awards, Keep Australia Beautiful is able to recognise local community and individual efforts that are helping rural and regional communities to become environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. The awards are sponsored by ‘Do the Right Thing’ and Replas.
Photo – Kirsty Richards Keep Australia Beautiful Board Member, Cr Margaret Malthouse, Margaret Thiel, Alex Hammett KESAB Sustainable Communities Programs Manager
- 22nd MARCH 2011
- Showcase sustainability initiatives occurring in your community
KESAB Sustainable Cities & Communities Programs 2011 Awards Launched
The KESAB Sustainable Cities and Communities 2011 Award entries were launched today.
Community groups, schools, councils and businesses are invited to showcase their environmental action and initiatives as they work towards a more sustainable community. Participants are asked to address the categories of community engagement, energy, water conservation, biodiversity, waste and education and innovation.
In 2010, KESAB received over 230 category entries for Sustainable Communities, with the winners announced and presented with awards by the Minister for Environment and Conservation, Hon Paul Caica MP.
Launching the 2011 KESAB Sustainable Cities and Communities Awards today the Minister said;
“The KESAB Sustainable Communities Awards have become an icon in South Australia and I was pleased to have the opportunity to present awards for outstanding projects under this program last November.
“The sheer range of entries, embracing waste, water, energy, education, community action and biodiversity, shows how seriously our communities take sustainability.
“In particular, it was inspiring to see the efforts of the town of Waikerie as the overall winner, not only for its initiatives in water and energy efficiency at its schools, farms and the town ferry, but also for the entire community’s efforts in coming together to make it work.
I also commend the South Port Noarlunga beach, the town of Goolwa and the City of Onkaparinga, for winning awards at the national level under the 2010 Keep Australia Beautiful Sustainable Cities program in areas of clean beaches, resource recovery and waste management and water conservation, respectively.
“These Awards inspire South Australians to take great pride in engaging with and educating others on sustainability issues, and to take action on environmental initiatives within their communities."
KESAB are excited to announce new partnerships in 2011;
Sims Metal Management, Veolia Environmental Services and the Department of Water – “Water for Good” have joined KESAB as Award partners alongside ongoing partners, Zero Waste SA, Recyclers of SA and long time supporters, Local Government Association and Medika Gallery.
Partnerships enable KESAB to recognise and reward the high achievers and outstanding actions enhancing and restoring the environment in the community. Long term sustainable practices are becoming entrenched in how South Australian communities manage local issues across water use and conservation, resource recovery, energy reduction and protecting heritage and cultural values.
New Awards
As part of the programs in 2011, community groups and schools will be eligible to nominate for the WATER for GOOD Excellence Awards. These awards will recognise excellence in education and behaviour change initiatives that help with future water security.
Sustainable Cities & Communities Awards entry details
Brief written entries outlining the details of activities are required to enter. Entry forms for the 2011 programs, including the Water for Good awards, are available here or contact KESAB on 8234 7255 or via email communities@kesab.asn.au
Entries now open and will close on Tuesday 31 May 2011 followed by assessment and judging. Awards will be presented in October with the overall winner going onto the Keep Australia Beautiful National Awards early 2012.
For information contact:
- KESAB Sustainable Programs Manager
- Alex Hammett
- P | 8234 7255
- M | 0413 612 126
- E | alex@kesab.asn.au
-