Council in line for second successive sustainability award

Published on 12 September 2019

Gannawarra Shire Council is in consideration to win a second Premier’s Sustainability Award in as many years following the announcement of finalists for the 2019 accolades.

Council’s Sustainable Gannawarra initiative is a finalist in the Built Environment category for the awards, recognising Council’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

Projects that form part of the Sustainable Gannawarra initiative are:

• Supporting large scale solar initiatives;
• Assisting the community through improved lighting and waste collection services;
• Developing joint ventures to reduce costs and environmental impacts of diesel engines;
• Enhancing solar energy generation by recycling infrastructure;
• Investigating supporting the installation of micro grid systems to power local towns; and
• Participating in the Central Victoria Greenhouse Alliance’s electric vehicle recharging program.

“The numerous initiatives that make up the Sustainable Gannawarra program are ensuring Council is meeting its goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 10 per cent, as outlined in the Gannawarra Shire Council Plan 2017-2021,” Mayor Lorraine Learmonth said.

“This is the third time this year the Sustainable Gannawarra initiative has been recognised, with the program claiming the Sustainable Initiative title at the 2019 Local Government Professionals Awards for Excellence and being recognised as a finalist in the Environmental Leadership and Sustainability category at the 2019 Local Government Professionals Australia National Federation Awards.”

It is the second successive year  Council has been announced as a finalist in the Premier’s Sustainability Award, with its work in supporting the development of the Gannawarra Solar Farm, located west of Kerang, claiming the Premier’s Regional Recognition Award in October 2018.

“These accolades are a credit to the work undertaken by Council staff to support sustainable opportunities throughout the Gannawarra,” Mayor Learmonth said.

Award winners will be announced during a ceremony in Melbourne on Thursday, 10 October. 

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.