Shire warm favourite

By Kath Gannaway
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges has been short-listed for the final of the prestigious Banksia Environmental Awards.
The Banksia Environmental Foundation is a national not-for-profit organisation which has Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as its patron.
The national awards, now into its 20th year, is a major event on the environmental calendar and promotes environmental excellence and sustainability.
The shire has been short listed for the Local Government Award for its work in becoming carbon neutral, and other environmental programs.
The award is one of only 10 categories presented as part of the Banksia Environmental Awards.
Yarra Ranges mayor Tim Heenan said he was delighted with the nomination.
“This is a great result and regardless of whether we win or not, it highlights just how innovative and proactive the council has been in helping tackle climate change,” Cr Heenan said.
“The shire’s achievements have been guided through our Resource Management Strategy which seeks to avoid using energy, reduce the amount of energy being used, replace finite energy sources with renewable low or zero emission energy and offset carbon emissions by tree planting.”
Award winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Melbourne Convention Centre on Friday 18 July.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges is one of only six councils Australia-wide to have reached the shortlist.