May 19, 2009
Tamworth’s award as the 2009 Australian Tidy Towns winner has kick-started a new drive to dig up residents doing their bit to make their local places more sustainable and attractive.
Organisers hope last weekend’s huge win in the Keep Australia Beautiful national competition – where Tamworth was named the outright overall winner of all state finalists – will give the local competition a real kickalong.
Entries are open for the Sustainable Community Awards and have been extended to May 22 to attract as many nominations as possible.
Mayor James Treloar says the awards are all about recognising civic pride and personal commitment to making the local environment a better place to live.
“It’s not about how pretty things are in the end, it’s really about what people are doing to make their place more environmentally friendly and helping sustain it for the future,” Mr Treloar said.
The council awards were instigated to encourage more people to adopt more sustainable practices in their gardening habits and honour those who were more environmentally-friendly in what they do in their own backyards.
The awards also seek to promote schools, community organisations, business, and rural properties who are doing their bit to promote community pride and partnerships that boost sustainable places.
Major sponsors Northern Daily Leader, 2TM, Bunnings, Tamworth Landscape Supplies, Tamworth Nursery, Joblink Plus, Penfords, Wests Entertainment, GlenAvon Partnership and Tamworth Regional Council has provided a package of prizes this year.
The supreme champ in last year’s awards was retired Barraba couple Joy and Ken Hodges who have turned their half acre rural house property into a sustainable paradise, using left over tyres, bricks and concrete blocks, and timber. Another 20 local enviro-champions were singled out for their work, including nine schools, the New England Learning Centre, and Kootingal and Baringa Park volunteers.
Registration forms are available at all TRC customer service centres and take only a couple of minutes to complete.
Judging criteria includes landscape design, plant selection like natives and low water use plants, the use of mulch and compost, weed and pest control methods, water sources, irrigation techniques, companion planting, use of recyclable materials, and innovation in design and use.
For more information, contact Brian Sheedy, Senior Horticultural Officer, TRC on 67675482 or go to the website www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/sustainableawards2009.