Indigo scoops Tidy Town Awards!

6/08/2007


Indigo Shire towns scooped the awards pool at the 25th Annual Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns Regional Awards held in Rutherglen last week.

Beechworth was named the overall North East Regional Sustainable Community – Tidy Towns winner and will now go on to represent the North East region at the state finals to be announced on 6 October.

Nine other Indigo Shire town projects were recognised as category winners and will advance to the state finals:

 Community Pride: Rutherglen – RSL Park
 Heritage & Culture: Chiltern – Chiltern Railway Station
 Environmental Innovation: Beechworth – Beechworth Vignerons Association
 Zero Waste Award: Beechworth – Public Place Recycling project
 Biodiversity & Conservation: Beechworth – Wildlife Corridor Project
 Community Government Partnership: Beechworth – Waste Oil Recycling Project
 Young Leaders: Beechworth – Spring Creek Revegetation Project
 Proud School: Rutherglen – St Mary’s Primary School

Indigo Shire Mayor Cr Peter Graham said the awards highlighted the wonderful environmental and sustainability projects underway in Indigo Shire. He paid tribute to the businesses, community groups and volunteers who have shown great dedication and community spirit.

“The Tidy Towns annual awards are an important part in recognising the value of the hundreds of volunteers who provide support to local communities throughout rural Victoria,” Cr Graham said.

“It is wonderful to receive recognition across so many categories and we are particularly thrilled Beechworth will contest the overall Victorian Tidy Towns award.”

Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Chief Executive Officer Wendy Jones said, “The power of local communities working together can achieve great community and environmental benefits for all to enjoy and benefit from, and this was definitely highlighted during this year’s judging.

“The Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns judges found it very hard to split this year’s category winners, which highlighted the dedication those communities who participated in this year’s program have towards their communities, environment and sustainability.”

The 25th Annual Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns awards are supported by Sustainability Victoria, the Packaging Stewardship Forum – AFGC “Do the Right Thing” Program and Cartridge World.