By JESSE GRAHAM
SUCCESSFUL sustainability in the Yarra Ranges was lauded by the State Government earlier this month, with the council and Healesville Sanctuary receiving state-wide awards from the Premier.
The Yarra Ranges Council and Healesville Sanctuary received the awards on Thursday 2 October, winning two of the nine categories for the annual Premier’s Sustainability Awards.
The sanctuary received the Tourism award for its work in promoting environmental sustainability to visitors, while the Yarra Ranges Council received the Community award for its Seedlings: Early Years Learning for Sustainability program.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Early Years Development Planning Development officer Claire Rock said the program was hands-on for children, who took part in 12 different pilot sites in the shire.
The pilot program was run in preschools, play groups and day care services for children up to six years old, teaching children and their families about sustainable living.
The council shares the award with Knox City Council, Alpine Shire, City of Melbourne and City of Port Phillip – all of which helped create the program.
Healesville Sanctuary director Glen Holland said visitors were encouraged to sign a pledge to take on environmentally friendly practices, such as using toilet paper made from recycled paper.
“One of the biggest threats to wildlife is everybody’s personal footprint on the environment – we are a highly consumptive species,” he said.
He said the sanctuary aimed to have over 400,000 visitors in 2014, and that they would like every visitor to think of how they could help the environment.
“It’s not only sustainable practices on-site, it’s how do we impact the 400,000 people to take action, which can have a far bigger impact,” Mr Holland said.
Seymour MP and Eildon candidate, Cindy McLeish, congratulated the sanctuary on its award.
“Healesville Sanctuary is leading by example and making our local area a cleaner and more livable place to live and work,” she said.
For more information on the awards, visit www.sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au.
