City of Cockburn - Wetlands to Waves

2009 Sustainability Awards -  Entries close June 30 2009

Nomination Period Ends June 30 2009.

Get your nominations in for the City of Cockburn A Better Tomorrow - Sustainability Awards. Your applications should address economic, environmental and community wellbeing criteria.

Two Prizes will be awarded in each of the following categories:

• School, community groups, not-for-profit organisation. (2 x $1,000 prize)
• Small business up to 20 employees. (2 x $1,000 prize)
• Large business 20+ employees. (2 x $1,000 prize)
• Household (individual or collective - eg. The Smith Family or Pinakarri Community) (2 x $1,000 prize)

All nominees go into the running to win the prestigious City of Cockburn Gold Sustainability Award worth $6,000. All participants will be invited to attend the Gala Celebration event on Friday 25 September 2009 where award winners are announced.

For more information phone 9411 3444. 

Encouraging and rewarding community participation in sustainability initiatives

Through A Better Tomorrow Sustainability Awards, which recognises high achievers in the sustainability field in our community and encourages others to act now.

• As an active and advanced member of the International Cities or Climate Change program since 2001, the City has been able to abate more than 208,000 tonnes of CO2
• Your household rubbish from green top bins is taken to the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council (SMRC) Regional Resource Recycling Centre, where 85% of it is converted into quality compost. By diverting waste from landfill this facility prevents the release of approximately 180,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases into our atmosphere each year, thats the same as taking 50,000 cars off the road annually.
• We are currently developing a program which will focus on internal individual recycling initiatives, energy and water conservation education programs
• A Natural Resource Management Program that rehabilitates up to 2 hectares a year at a cost of $120,000 per year
• A Water Conservation Strategy to ensure Council water use is equal to or less than that allocated from the Department of Water to achieve optimum yet  sustainable use of this resource
• 100% 'Green Power' for the Council Administration building
• Purchasing bio-diesel blend for all of our diesel cars

Economic Prosperity

• Establishing a Climate Action Program that assists local businesses in reducing  their energy use and GHG emissions.
• City of Cockburn Sustainable Procurement Policy, adopted in 2008 ensures that everything Council purchases, and goes out to tender for, will incorporate and encourage sustainability principles.
• Employing local, purchasing local
• Ensuring Council is economically viable and remains debt free
  

Social Advancement

• Involvement in the LivingSmart program that educates and motivates householders to live more sustainably
• 2% of revenue generated by the Council goes back into our community through a range of grants and donations
• Recycling used computers and office equipment through a community development program that updates the equipment and then gives them to students and community members in need
• Creating liveable communities, through implementing the design principles of the Liveable Neighbourhoods Code
• Environmental education initiatives in schools, communities and  volunteer groups
• Developing community action projects such as the Cockburn Community Development Strategy
• Coordination of a volunteer resource centre
• Providing ongoing community services and events