The Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith has announced the 20 finalists for the 2013 Premier’s Sustainability Awards, describing them as showcasing Victorian ingenuity, dedication and sheer hard work.

Amongst this year’s finalists are a climate watch mobile phone application, which fosters the development of ‘citizen scientists’, and a university project that has developed a novel approach to increase student awareness of sustainability in engineering.

A family-owned manufacturing business which has installed the second largest privately owned solar power system in Victoria was also shortlisted.

Now in its 11th year, the Awards celebrate the efficient use of water, resources and energy, as well as better waste management and recycling practices. It also recognises practical community actions that have been initiated to improve the environment.

Climate Watch mobile app. Image: climatewatch.org.au/mobile

The winners will be selected from each group of finalists per category at the awards ceremony, which will be held on Tuesday 22 October.

In addition to these awards, Victorian Premier Denis Napthine will personally select two overall winners – the Premier's Recognition Award, which will focus on a regional finalist who has demonstrated significant benefit for regional Victoria, and the Premier's Regional Recognition Award, awarded to the overall winner.

The full shortlist:

Innovative Products and Services Category
Earthco Projects Pty Ltd - Changing Victoria's unsealed road network to an asset rather than a liability by using a PolyCom Stabilising Aid
ModWood Technologies Pty Ltd - Flame Shield® (a wood-plastic composite designed and manufactured in Victoria)
Department of Environment and Primary Industries and Department of Education and Early Childhood Development - Schools Water Efficiency Program

Infrastructure and Buildings Category
Glen Eira City Council – Glen Eira Sports & Aquatic Centre
RMIT University – RMIT Swanston Academic Building
Surf Coast Shire – Surf Coast Shire Community Civic Precinct

Environmental Protection Category
Mallee Catchment Management Authority – Restoring the balance – the Hattah Lakes environmental watering program
Phillip Island Nature Parks – Saving Summerland – A Peninsula for penguins
Yarra Ranges Council – HabitAT School (protecting local wildlife)

Community Category
Earthwatch Institute Australia – ClimateWatch (technology to enable citizen science)
Moonee Valley City Council and Wingate Avenue Community Centre – Ascot Vale Housing Estate Household Recycling Project
St Kilda Mum – St Kilda Mums (re-using and re-cycling baby and children's products)

Education Category
Bentleigh Secondary College – Bentleigh Secondary College: A Very Sustainable School
Monash Sustainability Institute – Embedding sustainability in first year engineering
The Patch Primary School – The Patch Primary School Learning Landscape

Small and Medium Enterprises Category
GWMWater – Recycling redundant infrastructure for multiple benefits
Rae-Line Pty Ltd – Environmental Sustainability Initiatives in Manufacturing.

Large Business Category
Cabrini Health Limited – Utilising ISO 14001 Certification across a large Hospital Network
Mirvac Group – Victorian portfolio
Victoria Carpets – Energy and Emissions Reduction: Bendigo Plant

Geraldine Chua

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