2011 Melaleuca Award winners announced

03 Jun 2011

Power and Water Corporation is proud to recognise and reward the winners of this year’s awards at a ceremony at Darwin’s George Brown Botanic Gardens.

The winners, who each receive $1000 prize money and a trophy sculpted by local artist Christine Isaacs, are:

Community – DesertSMART COOLmob
Businesses in Alice Springs’ Todd Mall have been encouraged to keep their doors closed after COOLmob identified that air conditioning accounted for 50 to 60 per cent of their electricity bill. COOLmob used community-based social marketing techniques to promote and help businesses reduce electricity use and save costs.

Individual – Chris Watson
Zoology student Chris created the Birds Central blog site for residents of and visitors to Alice Springs. The content also explores conservation, habitat rehabilitation and fauna in the arid zone. The popular www.comebirdwatching.blogspot averages 1650 readers a month.

Small business – Fryerfuels Pty Ltd
Using waste oil from the hospitality industry, Fryerfuels produces biodiesel that can be used in most diesel engines. The fuel complies with Australian, European and US standards, is non-toxic and biodegradable.

Commercial / Industry – Alice Springs Airport
Alice Springs Airport is the only Australian airport with a large-scale solar energy plant feeding back to its electricity grid. The initiative, part of the Alice Solar City project, means the solar system can provide up to 28 per cent of the airport’s average daily electricity needs.

Schools – Girraween Primary School
Girraween hosted a Sustainable School in Action Field Day in 2010, showcasing everyday sustainable living practices ranging from the school’s bucket recycling program to the butterfly farm and identifying and eradicating weeds.

In addition to the Awards, an environmental grant was awarded to Greening Australia NT.
Greening Australia plans to establish a wetland water recycling demonstration facility in Darwin. The centre will showcase native Top End flora and use solar power to reticulate recovered water – the funding will purchase the solar-powered pump.

The Chairman’s Award, chosen by Chair of the Power and Water board Judith King, was awarded to Charles Darwin University’s Horticulture Aquaculture team.

The group installed an underground water catchment system under its plant nursery to catch and reuse excess irrigation water and wet season rain. It has saved 675,000 litres of water since it became fully operational late last year.

The 2011 Melaleuca Awards featured a new photographic competition, with photographs to feature creative ideas on water, energy or waste-saving.

Winners are:

Under 12 years – Andy Lu, Casuarina for his photo of a solar-powered fish tank

12 – 18 years – Jorja-Lee Kinna, Bakewell for her photo representing cleaning up the Territory

Open – Christine Seth, Anula for her photo of alternate ways of going to school to reduce environmental impacts

Power and Water congratulates all this year’s winners and thanks everyone who entered the 2011 Melaleuca Awards.

“This year’s entrants were of an extremely high standard,” Power and Water Managing Director Andrew Macrides said.

“I congratulate all our entrants on their efforts to live – and help others live – more sustainably.”

Winners will be featured at this weekend’s Tropical Garden Spectacular and Sustainable Living Festival at the George Brown Botanic Gardens.

Click here for more information on this year's winners.