Keep Australia Beautiful has announced the winners of the 2017 Australian Tidy Towns Awards. The sustainability and litter‐fighting organisation set out to recognise the hard work undertaken by individuals and groups in rural communities and share these best practices and ideas to continue to improve our vibrant rural towns. Running since 1990, the national awards are sponsored by the Australian Packaging Covenant and the Department of the Environment.
The finalist for Northern Territory, Areyonga (Utju) was highly commended in the Dame Phyllis Frost Litter Prevention, Waste Management & Resource Recovery; Community Action and Wellbeing; Heritage and Culture; and Environmental Education categories. The overall Australian Tidy Towns win went to Barmera, South Australia.
Australian Tidy Towns judge Jill Grant said, “This picturesque community has an amazing spirit and pride exhibited by all generations. Areyonga’s emphasis on continuous improvement and leadership in sustainability practices is an example for other remote communities.
“There is a deep commitment to improving quality of life and health outcomes and excellent school programs providing local knowledge in Pitjantjara about plants, traditional medicine, food sources and culture.”
Val Southam, Interim Chief Executive, Keep Australia Beautiful said, “Environmental measures such as the solar power plant, a water treatment plant that aims to reuse water for tree propagation and pasture, and gardens that are propagated in partnership with Alice Springs Correctional Centre encourage greater self‐sufficiency in times when access to and from the community is limited by weather events.
“It’s pleasing to see another year of high calibre National finalists from every corner of our amazing country.”
The two‐day event included a tour of Triabunna that showcased some of the town’s excellent projects, which contributed to their win last year; an address by Greg Irons, Wildlife Rescue Campaigner and Former Young Tasmanian of the Year; highlights from Jill Grant’s judging tour; finalist case studies; as well as opportunities, which allowed representatives the chance to share information and network with like‐ minded professionals from around Australia.
This year the program received more than 195 applications, with over 445 category submissions across councils, shires, community groups, schools and individuals.
Australian Tidy Towns winners table 2017 Category:
Find out more about Territory Tidy Towns and sign your town up, click here.