Leading lights of Melbourne’s environmental volunteer community are being invited to step forward and be recognised for their contribution, and to inspire and motivate others when nominations for the Port Phillip and Western Port Landcare Awards open this week.
The Port Phillip and Western Port region covers 1.3 million hectares of land, includes 8,000kms of rivers and creeks, and is home to more than 1,800 species of native flora and 600 species of native fauna. Roughly a third of this area is covered by native vegetation, much of it in the many national parks and reserves that make Melbourne such a liveable city. The region extends from Werribee, north to Mount Macedon, across to the Yarra Valley, south to Western Port, Mornington Peninsula and the Bays.
Thousands of individuals, community groups, local governments, indigenous groups and schools throughout the region are already doing activities that help protect these assets. These individuals and groups are invited to nominate for the awards so that not only can they be recognised for their achievements to protect or enhance the landscapes, but also provide a source of inspiration to us all.
Held every two years, the Port Phillip and Western Port Landcare Awards recognise the achievements of the dedicated people who have committed their own time to care for our environment.
Nominations for the Port Phillip and Western Port Landcare Awards close on Friday 18 June, 2010 and individuals or groups can nominate themselves or others for the awards.
Winners will be announced at the 2010 Port Phillip and Western Port Landcare Awards Presentation and Celebration event to be held during Landcare Week, at Zinc in Federation Square Melbourne, on Saturday 11 September.
Regional Landcare Coordinator for the Port Phillip and Western Port region Doug Evans says “the majority of people involved in caring for our region’s natural environment are reluctant to put themselves in the spotlight. Our experience however suggests that highlighting the commitment and achievements of these people and their organisations provides a wonderful source of inspiration and motivation for those that get to hear about them and their work”
“The Landcare Awards are about finding some shining examples of landcare work that inspire others to do the same. The awards presentation event is also an important way of saying thank you to the many individuals, groups, schools and organisations that quietly go about improving the environment we live in.”
All the 2010 winners of the landcare awards in the region will be nominated for the 2011 Victorian Landcare Awards and if successful they will represent Victoria at the national awards.
Those interested in nominating are asked to go to www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au for information about the awards and for nomination forms.
Sponsored by Citipower, Melbourne Water and the Department of Sustainability’s Victorian Landcare program, the categories for this year’s Landcare Awards are:
Individual Caring for Public Land
Awarded to an individual who carries out and/or promotes landcare primarily on public land through on-ground or awareness activities as a volunteer.
Individual Caring for Private Land
Awarded to an individual who carries out and/or promotes landcare primarily on private land through on-ground or awareness activities as a volunteer.
Network Caring for Land
Awarded to a Landcare Network that is driving/leading the adoption of sound land management practices at a landscape scale, and/or working towards sustainable land use and/or enhancing or protecting an area on behalf of the community.
Local Government Caring for Land
Awarded to a local government organisation collaborating with its community to preserve and manage its local environment and natural resources, encouraging a landcaring ethic and action in the local community, and cooperating on landcare issues and projects with neighbouring councils, and other organisations, businesses, and landowners.
Primary Producer Caring for Land
Awarded to a primary producer (individual and/or family and/or farm partnership) for their significant contribution to caring for our catchments, shown through sound land management practices and sustainable productivity. Primary production includes agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture, and farm forestry.
Young People Caring for Land
Awarded to primary or secondary school or youth group (eg. Scouts, Guides) - either as a whole class or special group. The Award is for the school/group’s contribution to raising awareness, knowledge and understanding of landcare amongst students and/or the community, and for implementing landcare practices on its own property or within the local community.
Community Group Caring for Public Land
Awarded to a community group that is working primarily on public land, and is driving/leading the adoption of sound land management practices at a local scale, and/or working towards sustainable land use and/or enhancing or protecting an area on behalf of the community.
Community Group Caring for Private Land
Awarded to a community group that is working primarily on private land, and is driving/leading the adoption of sound land management practices at a local scale, and/or working towards sustainable land use and/or enhancing or protecting an area on behalf of the community.
Caring for Community Groups
Awarded to a community member, coordinator, facilitator or officer who is effectively providing support and capacity building for two or more volunteer-based community environment groups in the Port Phillip and Western Port region.
Indigenous Caring for Land
Awarded to an Indigenous community group or individual, that/who has adopted/promoted sound land management practices on public or private land, is working towards culturally sustainable land use, and/or enhancing and protecting an area on behalf of the community.
Nominations are open and information can be found by visiting www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au or calling the PPWCMA on 8781 7900. Nominations close on Friday June 18, 2010.
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