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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-06-17 Daily Xml
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World Environment Day Awards

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:45): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Will the minister inform the chamber about South Australia's winners and finalists in this year's World Environment Day Awards presented by the United Nations Association of Australia?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:46): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I am advised that the United Nations Association of Australia was established in 1946 to promote the aims and work of the United Nations in this country. The association engages Australian citizens in the work of the UN through a range of activities, including education programs and advocacy work.

As you probably know, Mr President, 5 June is World Environment Day. On this day each year the United Nations Association holds its annual World Environment Day Awards to recognise innovative and outstanding environmental programs and initiatives from across the country. The awards invite nominations from individuals, organisations, leaders, businesses, councils, schools, journalists and other groups whose work serves to protect, manage or restore our natural heritage.

These awards play an important role in raising awareness about key environmental issues and challenges, and also in encouraging organisations to reach new goals. They are designed to inspire and motivate individuals, organisations and businesses to take positive steps toward sustainability and environmental excellence in their homes, their schools, their local communities and workplaces. The 2015 awards were presented in Melbourne on World Environment Day, and I understand that the calibre of submissions was particularly high. I am pleased to report that several South Australian groups were commended as finalists and winners in a number of categories.

Engaging the youth of Australia in the work of the UN is a particular priority of the United Nations Association of Australia. It is therefore particularly pleasing that two South Australian youth leadership programs were shortlisted as finalists this year. The River Murray Youth Council is a ground-breaking youth leadership program modelled on the Natural Resources South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Education Team, and the Young Environmental Leaders Program for students in years 5 to 8 who want to get involved in looking after natural resources with their school was another program commended.

Each of these programs is quite fantastic, and they deserve the recognition they have received through their nomination, not just because of the great work they do to raise young people's awareness of environmental issues but also because they raise awareness of the environment generally in the community at the same time—particularly when they go home and tell their parents about what they have learnt at school that day.

I am pleased to advise that KESAB Environmental Solutions was the winner of the sustainability education category. As the United Nations Association of Australia Awards committee noted, KESAB impressed through its 'creative and innovative approach to leading sustainability education for over half a century in South Australia'. In another nod to us, Kangaroo Island Council won the local government category for Best Specific Environmental Initiative with their Visible Solar Project. This project involves a state-of-the-art, dual-axis solar array system installed at the Kangaroo Island airport. The system tracks the sun, increasing the energy output by 30 per cent compared to a fixed system, and generates enough power to cover 80 per cent of the needs of the Kangaroo Island airport, saving the council at least $24,000 a year in power bills.

These are some of the outstanding examples of the great innovative environmental work done at a local level in our state, and I congratulate all the nominees and winners of the 2015 Environment Day Awards for their contribution to the environment. Most importantly, at a time when the federal government continues to ignore the environmental challenges we are facing as a nation and as a world, local communities are showing just how much it is possible to step up and combat climate change with the right motivation and commitment and the right people.

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