From left, City of Casey councillor Geoff Ablett, Adam Selvay, from Henley Properties Group, Greg Hunt, from South East Councils Climate Change Alliance, Mayor Sam Aziz, Mike Davis, from Stockland, Janine Armstrong, from Henley Properties Group, Andrew Whitson, from Stockland and councillor Amanda Stapledon pictured with Selandra Community Place, which won a 2012 Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Sustainable Cities award last week.By Bridget Cook
THE City of Casey cleaned up at the 2012 Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Sustainable Cities and Clean Beaches Awards.
The council was announced the winner of the Pam Keating Environmental Sustainability Award for Selandra Community Place at the awards in Melbourne on Friday.
Selandra Community Place was also a finalist in the Water Efficiency Award and Efficient Energy Award.
The Sustainable Cities and Clean Beaches Awards celebrate and recognise the positive actions taken by councils, local community groups, schools and individuals in Victoria to protect and enhance the local environment.
The Pam Keating Environmental Sustainability Award recognises outstanding achievement in using resources more efficiently, therefore decreasing the environmental footprint.
Selandra Community Place is an eight-star, zero energy display home and educational hub, which features a range of interactive displays, DVD animations and take-home information cards to allow visitors to learn how to be more efficient with energy, waste and water and improve their overall wellbeing.
Located in Cranbourne East, the house is an Australian-first project delivered by the City of Casey, Stockland, Henley Properties Group and South East Councils Climate Change Alliance (SECCCA).
City of Casey Mayor Sam Aziz said the council was pleased to be recognised for their efforts to educate the community about environmental sustainability through the development of Selandra Community Place.
“Council identified that in order to continue delivering liveable and sustainable communities for our residents that we needed to be as innovative as possible,” he said.
“As a result, Selandra Community Place is an Australian-first for local government working together with a range of partners to deliver a planned, connected and sustainable community where residents’ needs, wellbeing and lifestyle have been considered.”
“A sustainability program is run by SECCCA onsite and environmental advice is available including a popular one-on-one consultation which provides residents with information about sustainable building techniques.”
This year, the awards attracted 100 separate initiatives and the City of Casey was announced finalists in eight categories for different projects.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith congratulated all the winners.
“These awards provide a great opportunity for councils, schools, individuals and community groups to be recognised and rewarded for sustainable initiatives that lessen the impact on the environment,” he said.
The City of Boroondara, as the winner of the Victorian Sustainable City of the Year
Award, will go on to represent Victoria at the Australian Sustainable City Awards.
