This year’s Premiers Sustainability Awards has seen winners across a diverse range of categories, from medical recycling to the recovery of shellfish reefs and water recycling.
Hosted by comedian Charlie Pickering and presented by Victorian Government Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, the awards recognise individuals, organisations and businesses working to create a better world.
In the area of waste management, The Nature Conservancy’s Shuck Don’t Chuck took out the Community category, while Western Health’s Single Use Metal Instruments Recycling Program was recognised in the Health category. Kingfield Galvanizing won the Small and Medium Enterprises category for the development of a large, automated galvanising plant with some of the lowest emissions of any similar plant in the souther hemisphere.
Melbourne company, eWater Systems, won the night’s top honour – the Premier’s Recognition Award – for developing water splitting technology which was used to clean and sanitise facilities such as hospitals, schools, manufacturing businesses and restaurants chemical free.
Related stories:
Sustainability Victoria’s interim Chief Executive, Stephanie Ziersch, said the Premier’s Sustainability Awards recognised Victorians who had made a difference to the environment by implementing measures to better manage their waste, water and energy.
“Victoria has an excellent track record of delivering innovative projects that benefit our environment and the community, particularly in relation to efficient waste management, resource recovery and new technologies for clean energy.”
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 aims to benefit the environment, remain 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. This project is helping to save this endangered species from extinction.
Government
Moreland City Council – Moreland Urban Heat Island Effect Action Plan (Moreland)
The council’s 2016–2026 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 a waste of high-quality metals. The program has recovered around 500kgs of recycled steel, representing approximately 80 per cent 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.
Pictured: Catherine O’Shea, Sustainability Officer, Western Health, Victorian Government Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, Andrew McGavin, Operations Manager Engineering Services, Western Health,