Presentation of the Louise Petchell Memorial Award for Individual Sustainability. From left: Bernard Proctor (Louise's partner), winner Anthony Weinberg, of Waverley Council, LGNSW Board member Cr Penny Pedersen and Donna Heffernan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Active Super.

Winners announced for Excellence in the Environment Awards 2023

LGNSW congratulates the winners of the 2023 Excellence in the Environment Awards, which were held on Tuesday 5 December at The Calyx, Royal Botanic Gardens.

There were 43 finalists across 13 categories vying for the awards.

The awards recognise outstanding achievements by NSW local government in managing and protecting the environment.

Congratulations to the Local Sustainability Award winner, Shoalhaven City Council, which has shown leadership by bringing forward its net zero emissions target from 2050 to 2035. The council is well on the way to achieving its target thanks to actions such as a power purchase agreement for more renewables (25% in 2023 and 50% by 2025), and installing 400kW solar PV and batteries at more than 25 council-owned halls and community assets.

The council is also helping residents to reduce emissions through community workshops, provision of community energy efficiency kits, and the release of the Shoalhaven Sustainable Living Guide. Shoalhaven LGA now has 30% of dwellings with solar PV. Other initiatives to promote sustainability include videos to improve community education in Bushcare, recycling and water savings.

The winner of the 2023 Louise Petchell Memorial Award for Individual Sustainability, Anthony Weinberg from Waverley Council, is also no stranger to leading and inspiring others, having designed and implemented a number of award-winning and innovative projects such as Solar my School, Solar my Suburb, Energy Smart Cafes, and Leading the Charge (public electric vehicle charging infrastructure).

The Solar My School program has gone beyond the three-council collaboration of Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick, to be offered in 13 LGAs working with more than 200 schools.

See complete list of award winners
See case studies

Thanks to our event partner Landcom, and category partners Active Super, WolfPeak, Cleanaway, the Water Directorate, Safework NSW, NSW Environment Protection Authority, Office of Energy and Climate Change, Department of Planning and Environment, and Department of Primary Industries.

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