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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-10-29 Daily Xml
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SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (14:51): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question about KESAB's 2009 National Sustainability Awards.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Local government plays an important role in advancing sustainability initiatives in our communities. For example, councils use planning regulations, waste management strategies and education programs to further sustainability on a day-to-day basis. 'Think globally and act locally' is the old catchcry of local community activists around the nation. This philosophy is actively pursued by our local government sector. I understand that a South Australian local council was a contender in a national sustainability awards ceremony in Canberra recently. Will the minister advise the council on how our state finalist, the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, performed in the national competition?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (14:52): I am delighted to advise the council that, after being named South Australia's finalist in the Keep Australia Beautiful Australian Sustainable Cities Awards 2009, the City of Port Adelaide Enfield won not one but two awards in the ceremony held in Canberra on Friday 23 October 2009. The awards are designed to encourage, motivate and celebrate the local sustainability achievements of local urban communities in Australia.

The City of Port Adelaide Enfield is active in water quality improvement and conservation, graffiti management, butt litter reduction, education, illegal dumping and community waste reduction education. The wide range of strategies used by the city demonstrates the seriousness of its commitment to long-term environmental sustainability. As a result, Port Adelaide Enfield won awards in the categories of Young Legends and Resource Recovery and Waste Management.

I was particularly pleased that the city received an award for its effective and innovative approach to resource recovery and waste management. The council's bulk residential green organics disposal program has been successful in diverting and recycling about 500 tonnes of garden organics a year by encouraging residents to manage their own green waste and converting this to compost for use in the region. I understand that its innovative approach to disposal has also facilitated the recycling of a huge amount of building waste, with over 9,600 tonnes of construction and demolition materials in the 2008-09 financial year alone, so I am told.

The council was chosen for this award because of its outstanding commitment to the improved recovery of a wide range of materials from both industry and households, but the council did not stop there. By supporting the work of the Portside Christian School in actively caring for Mangrove Cove, the City of Port Adelaide Enfield also won the National Young Legends award, which is sponsored by Toys'R'Us.

This project provides numerous learning opportunities for the school by engagement in environmental sustainability initiatives in that area. This is a particularly important initiative, as it teaches future citizens how they can nurture their environment and protect it for future generations. As the past minister for the environment and the current Minister for State and Local Government Relations, I am delighted that these two portfolio responsibilities dovetail around these awards. I certainly congratulate the City of Port Adelaide Enfield on winning two very prestigious national awards and commend its commitment to environmental sustainability.

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