RDV Funded Project wins sustainability award
Friday, 10 June 2011
Several Victorian businesses and organisations have been recognised at the Premier's Sustainability Awards 2011 for their outstanding achievements in implementing sustainability initiatives.
Premier Ted Baillieu awarded Godfrey Hirst Australia the top honour, the Premier's Recognition award, for introducing best-practice sustainability initiatives into their daily business operations over the past seven years. This leading edge initiative was delivered with the assistance of RDV through Regional Infrastructure funding.
"I would like to congratulate Godfrey Hirst Australia and all the category winners for their creativity, leadership, innovation and for integrating sustainability into their organisation and work practices," Mr Baillieu said.
Godfrey Hirst Australia's water treatment plant, based on effluent recycling and stormwater harvesting, has helped reduce emissions and water consumption by almost 50 per cent.
"Our finalists have demonstrated that sustainability makes good business sense and can assist Victorian businesses reduce costs and gain or maintain a competitive edge on a national and global scale," Mr Baillieu said.
"Being smart with our resources makes economic and social sense."
The winners of the Premier's Sustainability Awards 2011 were:
- Built Environment award – Grocon for their carbon-neutral Pixel Building that has achieved a perfect Greenstar rating
- Small Business award - 3Fish for providing ethical, Fairtrade clothing using organic cotton, dyes and ink
- Community award - Hepburn Wind for Australia's first community-owned wind farm which will deliver clean electricity to all houses in Daylesford and the surrounding area
- Products or Services award – Grocon for developing Pixelcrete, a 'green' concrete substitute with the same strength and use as conventional concrete
- State Government award - Department of Treasury and Finance for its Greener Government Buildings Program to help reduce the Victorian Government's environmental impact and operational costs
- Local Government award - Whitehorse City Council for the Whitehorse Sustainable Ambassadors program that has engaged more than 1,000 community members in sustainable living practices
- Tertiary Education award - RMIT University for embedding sustainability into its Bachelor of Arts (Textile Design) program.
Another RDV, Regional Infrastructure Fund supported winner was the Grampians Region award for Hepburn Wind - Australia's first community-owned co-operative wind farm.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith presented the awards and said he was impressed by the quality of all the initiatives.
"The advantage of innovative sustainable business practices can only grow as the consumer demand for products and services with sustainable credentials continues at a rapid pace," Mr Smith said.
The Premier's Sustainability Awards 2011 are Victoria's highest honours in sustainability recognising excellence in a wide range of sectors from small to large business, state and local government, education and the development of new products and services that support sustainable practice.
