Monash is Keep Victoria Beautiful’s (KVB) Overall 2020 Sustainable City of the Year, taking out the top award at an online ceremony last night (12 November).
KVB’s Sustainable Cities Awards recognise and celebrate positive actions taken by communities in urban areas to protect and enhance their local environments.
Monash also won an award in the Environment (Council) category for the native bees and seeds kits that the Sustainable Monash team put together and delivered to interested residents during the COVID-19 ‘stay at home’ restrictions.
The kits were used by residents to build little bee homes, to attract Australian native bees to gardens and encourage pollination. They also grew indigenous plants from seeds to create a habitat garden while in lockdown.
Mayor Brian Little said he was thrilled that the City of Monash was recognised with the prestigious Sustainable City of the Year award.
“This award is a testament to the passion of our Council teams and community groups in protecting and enhancing the fantastic environments and amenities that we have in Monash,” Cr Little said.
“The bee and seed kits were enormously popular, particularly with children and we’re delighted to have encouraged a greater interest in nature for our younger residents through this project.”
The Clayton Zone Project – education about litter prevention and how to recycle and dispose of waste correctly for people living in Clayton was Highly Commended in the Litter (Council) category.
The War on E-waste free public event, held in August 2019 with ABC personality Craig Reucassel and a panel of experts, was Highly Commended in the Waste (Council) category.
Monash was named an overall finalist because Council and other community groups including the Waverley Garden Club and Brentwood Secondary College entered a minimum of three council projects in separate categories and three community projects in any category.
Council also has an Environment Advisory Committee that assists in getting community input into sustainability projects.
Our Monash Youth Ambassadors (YABS) were also finalists in the Social Well-being category for their #MYAction2020 campaign.
You can see all the finalists at the KVB awards website.
As part of the awards submission, Council put forward several projects that showcased the sustainability projects and education being done in the community including:
- Mackie Road Neighbourhood House Sustainability Hub
- Native bees and seeds kits and other home-based activities during COVID-19 (WINNER)
- the Clayton Zone Litter Prevention Project (HIGHLY COMMENDED)
- Corporate Gardens for Wildlife program at Dame Nellie Melba Retirement Village
- The War on E-waste free public event with Craig Reucassel (HIGHLY COMMENDED)
- Waverley Garden Club’s City of Monash Open Gardens (an initiative of the club and supported by Council).
Monash joined other metropolitan Melbourne Councils - City of Bayside, City of Casey, City of Moonee Valley and City of Port Phillip - as a finalist in the overall Sustainable City Award.
You can catch up on the awards at KVB’s YouTube channel and read about the awards at the KVB website.
Media Contact: Emily Webb 0466 036 560 or email Emily.Webb@monash.vic.gov.au