2004 Winners
Winners of the sixth Tasmanian Awards for Environmental Excellence were announced on Saturday, 15 May 2004 at the Environment Minister's Dinner. The Minister for Environment and Planning, the Hon Judy Jackson MHA, presented the awards at a formal dinner held at Wrest Point Hotel Casino in Hobart, Tasmania.
Winners in each category are:
Summary of Award Winners
Clean Business Award
Winner - Pasminco Hobart Smelter - Extending the Life Cycle of Aluminium Electrodes
Pasminco Hobart Smelter has initiated an innovative program to recycle aluminium electrodes which embraces the fundamental environmental principles of reduce, reuse and recycle.
The project has identified a number of creative ways in which the life of a valuable sheet of aluminium alloy can be significantly extended before it is re-processed into a high value added zinc-aluminium alloy known as EZDA for zinc die casting customers. The key steps have involved sourcing of previously scrapped large sheets of aluminium alloy from overseas zinc smelters, using them, then inverting them for re-use in Hobart, and further size reduction for use at the Port Pirie Smelter in South Australia. After active service in three different zinc refining operations, the sheet is finally shredded and turned into a high quality zinc alloy. The process has resulted in a 56 per cent reduction in the use of new aluminium plate.
The project was initiated in April 2002 and expanded last year.
The result has not only been considerable savings for the company, but also a significant reduction in wastage of a valuable mineral resource.
Sponsored by:
Communications Award
Winner - The Examiner Newspaper - Tap into Freshwater
The ‘Tap into Freshwater’ teaching/learning series consisted of a two page lift out that ran in The Examiner over six weeks. It examined the importance of freshwater to all living things and water issues at a global, national and state level. The series was designed to educate people about the importance of freshwater and its vital role in the continued development and survival of all plant and animal life on earth.
Sponsored by:
Community Award
Winner - Coles Bay Community and Tourism Association - Plastic Shopping Bag Free
This year, 200,000 people will experience shopping without plastic shopping bags. It’s not the same people who visit Coles Bay every year, it includes Australians and international visitors, therefore, the reach of this project has been, and will continue to be, enormous. Many marine animals in our area will have far less chance of being injured or killed by mistaking plastic shopping bags for food. Not only will our environment be safer for local wildlife and marine animals, but it will also be more aesthetically pleasing. Through our initiative to ban plastic shopping bags the rest of Australia and also the world have been made aware of our achievement and some have already followed our example. This proves that great ideas in a small community can inspire change on a very large scale.
Sponsored by:
Environmentally Responsible Business Award
Winner - Hydro Tasmania - International Hydropower Association Sustainability Guidelines
Hydro Tasmania has established itself as a world leader in the sustainable development and management of renewable energy systems. Hydro Tasmania’s achievements in leadership in sustainability resulted in it being chosen by the International Hydropower Association (IHA) to lead the development of Sustainability Guidelines for the international hydropower industry.
An innovative Compliance Protocol has been developed to assist in implementing the guidelines. It is being trialled in a number of countries after successful testing in South Africa. The guidelines are being translated into a number of languages and will provide benchmarks for best practice in the international hydropower industry.
Sponsored by:
Local Government Award
Winner - Kingborough Council - Kingston Stormwater Wetlands
The mouth of Browns River at Kingston Beach is utilised as a recreational swimming area by many people in the Hobart region. Council monitoring of the site since 1994 identified significantly elevated, and potentially harmful, bacterial levels at this spot.
Kingston Rivulet (a highly modified drainage and stormwater conduit running through the urban area of Kingston township) and Whitewater Creek were identified through Council monitoring programs as key sources of faecal contamination to Browns River.
The Kingston Stormwater Wetlands are located near the confluence of Whitewater Creek and Browns River within the urban area of Kingston. The Wetlands site is now being utilised for the collection and treatment of stormwater run-off from Kingston Rivulet and a first flush portion of Whitewater Creek. This has reduced a significant source of faecal contamination entering Browns River near its mouth at Kingston Beach and resulted in the evolution of a site that is a key community educational, aesthetic and recreational asset.
Sponsored by:
Mining and Mineral Processing Award
Winner - Echo Remediation - Heybridge Bioremediation Project
Winner of the Minister's Environment Award
What relevance do potatoes, mushroom compost and Tasmanian plants have for waste remediation? They're central to Echo Remediation's unique, elegant solution to the legacy of residual pollution, contaminated groundwater and surface run-off from former Tioxide sludge dams near Burnie.
Echo's proven system is based on innovative science, strong stakeholder relationships and a shared determination to develop an effective, sustainable solution. The result is the transformation of an acidic, heavy metal waste liability into clean water and a wetlands habitat supporting a rich diversity of native flora and fauna.
Echo's Bioremediation System offers a new, exciting solution for a wide range of contamination problems throughout Tasmania.
Sponsored by:
Tasmanian Minerals Council Limited
Professor Harry Bloom Memorial Award
Winner - Christian Bell
Christian Bell has worked in a selfless, tireless and focused manner for the past 15 years to ensure the adequate reservation of two marine areas considered of state and national significance because of their biodiversity - the Kent Group in Bass Strait and Port Davey in Tasmania's south-west. Working first as a volunteer and then as coordinator of the Marine and Coastal Community Network, he facilitated policy input into Tasmania's initial MPAs and continued to mobilise community awareness, interest and input to ensure that other significant areas were appropriately reserved. His work has culminated in the recent decision to declare the Kent Group and Port Davey as Marine Protected Areas.
Sponsored by:
Sustainable Agriculture Award
Winner - Tim and Jane Parsons
Tim and Jane Parsons are primary industry leaders who lead by example. They are working to restore their property at Hamilton. Not satisfied with just improving their own property, they are a driving force with the local landcare group.
Tim and Jane strive to undertake best practice environmental activities but they are also committed to increasing their knowledge about these activities. They have willingly made their property available to several individuals and groups to undertake scientific trials. Once the knowledge has been gained they enthusiastically pass it on to others whilst also changing their practices to the ‘new’ best practice.
This application has been submitted on behalf of the Parsons by Lisa Burstall, who has been involved with marketing opportunities on the property. The Parsons are unaware that the application has been submitted. More justice could have been given in tailoring the responses to the specific selection criteria.
Sponsored by:
Environmental Education and Training Award
Winner - Woodbridge School - Woodbridge School Sustainability Program - Nel Smit
The whole School Sustainability Program coordinated by Nel Smit at Woodbridge School is the first of its kind in Tasmania. The Program address the school as a system, implementing sustainable practices both through the curriculum and through environmentally sound operational practices, communicating the purposes of sustainability to all staff, students and the community. Day to day practical tasks focus on biodiversity, resource conservation, energy efficiency and waste reduction. The holistic approach involves practical problem solving and partnerships, working together with sound habits to create sustainable futures.
Sponsored by:
For Further Information:
Contact: Project Manager - Tasmanian Awards for Environmental Excellence
Environment Division, 7th Floor, 134 Macquarie Street
PO Box 1751
Hobart TAS 7001
Phone: 03 6233 3373
Fax: 03 6233 3800
Email: EnvironmentEnquiries@environment.tas.gov.au