The winners of the Victorian Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2013 have been announced, with the Ascot Vale Housing Estate Household Recycling project by the Moonee Valley City Council and Wingate Avenue Centre taking home the top prize.

The project introduced recycling by using targeted and broad-ranging community engagement of culturally and linguistically diverse, lower socio-economic status groups.

Praised for defying previous failed attempts to introduce recycling and establishing a successful, model, the project also won the Community category of the awards.

Sustainability Victoria’s CEO, Stan Krpan, congratulated the Moonee Valley City Council and Wingate Avenue Community for their innovative work in delivering recycling to the estate’s residents, of whom 55 per cent were born overseas.

“A key initiative of this project was the focus on engaging residents from many cultural backgrounds with varying competency [sic] in English, in the importance of recycling,” he said.

Image: newsmaker.com.au

Image: newsmaker.com.au

Within the first six months of the project, 52 tonnes of recyclables were recovered. Furthermore, three of the 11 residents who worked on the project were able to secure jobs as a result of their experience.

Winning the Infrastructure and Buildings category was the Swanston Academic Building (SAB) by RMIT, which was developed to meet changing academic environments.

Swanston Academic Building designed by Lyons Architecture.

“RMIT is strongly committed to transforming its own built environment to help create sustainable and resilient cities, and to demonstrate leadership excellence in sustainable design and innovation,” praised Krpan.

The building has been awarded a GBCA 5 star Green Star Education rating for its integrating sustainability features in “outstanding design”.

For the first time in the awards’ history, the Premier chose Dandenong business, Victoria Carpets, as the winner in the inaugural Premier’s Regional Recognition Award for a series of sustainability projects at their Bendigo Woollen Mill.

Victorian Carpets' Bendigo Woollen Mill. Image: sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au

Victorian Carpets' Bendigo Woollen Mill. Image: sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au

Now in its 11th year, the Premier’s Sustainability Awards celebrate the efficient use of water, resources and energy, better waste management and recycling practices, as well as the enhancement of the environment and practical community action.

Full list of 2013 winners:

The Premier's Recognition Award
Moonee Valley City Council and Wingate Avenue Community Centre, taking recycling to public housing residents

The Premier's Regional Recognition Award
Victoria Carpets, for their work in energy and emissions reduction in their Bendigo plant

Innovative Products or Services Award
ModWood Technologies for development of Flame Shield®, a wood-plastic composite for building in bushfire areas

Infrastructure and Buildings Award
RMIT University for their Swanston Academic Building: a progressive tertiary learning environment

Environmental Protection Award
Mallee Catchment Management Authority's project: Restoring the balance in the drought-riven Hattah Lakes

Education Award
Bentleigh Secondary College - a world recognised, very sustainable school

Small and Medium Enterprises Award
Rae-Line for embedding sustainability practices in manufacturing soft trim components for trucks

Large Business Award
Victoria Carpets

Community Award
Moonee Valley City Council and Wingate Avenue Community Centre

Geraldine Chua

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