Finalists of 10th WA Environment Awards announced

The Western Australian government has announced 46 finalists in the 2011 WA Environment Awards. A record 112 entries were received this year from throughout the state from as far north as Kununurra to the south coast, said Environment Minister Bill Marmion. "The strength and diversity of the entries illustrates the many different projects being undertaken throughout the state aimed at environmental protection and conservation," Marmion said. There were 11 categories in the awards program. "The state government does not work in a vacuum and much of the work being done by environmental government agencies relies on the cooperation, involvement and support of the wider community," he said.

The Environment Awards are coordinated by the Department of Environment and Conservation and are generously sponsored by the Publishers National Environment Bureau, Western Power, Swan River Trust, Royalties for Regions, the Packaging Stewardship Forum, Whiteman Park, Rheem and the Waste Authority.

Finalists in the 2011 WA Environment Awards are:

Corporate Business Leading by Example

• Burswood Entertainment Complex - Food waste to compost Initiative
• St John of God Health Care - Safeguarding our environment
• Cliffs Asia Pacific Iron Ore - Cliffs Joint Land Management Project in the Northern Yilgarn
• Rio Tinto, Woodside and Dampier Port Authority - Industry Communities Against Rubbishing Our Environment (ICARE)
• Chevron Australia - Gorgon Quarantine Management System

Small Business Leading by Example

• The Painted Fish
• The Green Life Soil Co - A small business with big ideals
• Sail Ningaloo
• Solar Dwellings - Naturally Comfortable Homes
• The Gnaraloo Station Trust - Environmental Stewardship and Biodiversity Conservation Initiatives

Government Leading by Example

• Main Roads WA - New Perth Bunbury Highway
• Shire of Mundaring - The Tree Canopy and Understorey Program
• Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council - Landfill Rehabilitation Program
• City of Cockburn - Sustainability and Climate Change Program
• Polytechnic West - The way to a better environmental future for WA

Biodiversity Conservation

• City of Stirling - Threatened and Endangered Species Protection and Habitat Restoration
• The Black Cockatoo Preservation Society - Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre
• Regina Drummond - Brixton Street Wetlands, Kenwick
• The Gnaraloo Station Trust - Environmental Stewardship and Biodiversity Conservation Initiatives
• Whiteman Park - Woodland Reserve

Bush, Land and Waterways

• Chittering Landcare Group - Chittering Landcare Centre
• City of Stirling - Bushland Rehabilitation Project: Richard Guelfi Reserve, Dianella Reserve and Mt Lawley Reserve
• Black Cockatoo Preservation Society - Restoring Kaarakin: Saving WA's Northern Jarrah Forest
• Walpole Nornalup National Parks Association - Restoration and revegetation of the foreshore at Rest Point, Walpole Nornalup Inlets Marine Park 

Resource and Waste Management

• Shire of Dowerin - Effective small town recycling
• Murdoch University - Best Practice Recycling System at Murdoch University
• Sodexo - Remote Sites Resource Recovery Program
• Colmax Glass Pty Ltd - Vertically integrated glass recycling plant at Kewdale, WA
• Brookfield Multiplex FSH Contractor - Fiona Stanley Hospital
• Rio Tinto, Woodside and the Dampier Port Authority - Industry Communities against Rubbishing Our Environment (ICARE)

Estuaries, Rivers and Wetlands

• City of Nedlands - Masons Gardens Rehabilitation
• Brunswick River Restoration Action Group
• Regina Drummond - Brixton Street Wetlands, Kenwick
• South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare - Restoring rivers, wetlands and transforming drains to living streams in urban Perth
• Conservation Volunteers Australia - Rio Tinto Earth Assist

Environmental Education and Communication

• Kimberley Toad Busters - Cane Toad Frontline Education
• Men of the Trees Peel - Million Trees Program working with schools
• HotRock - Engaging High Schools in Sustainability Education
• Denmark Environment Centre - Wilson Inlet Community Monitoring Program
• Conservation Volunteers Australia - Rio Tinto Earth Assist

Community Achievement - Regional

• Communities Against Rubbishing the Environment
• Alexander Fullarton - North West’s solar famer and solar advocate
• Wellstead Historical and Heritage Committee
• Community Achievement - Metropolitan
• South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare (SERCUL)
• Malubillai/Friends of Mirrabooka
• Hulbert St Projects Committee

There are no finalists in the Environmental Sustainability Category as submissions did not meet the criteria. Awards winners will be announced at a presentation dinner at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday 25 November. Tickets are available from DEC's website http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/awards.