Manly Council wins Overall Sustainable Council title in Keep NSW Beautiful Awards

 

Manly Council has been crowned most sustainable city in New South Wales in Keep NSW Beautiful’s Sustainable Cities Awards, in recognition of their progressive efforts to create a holistic and comprehensive vision of environmental, economic and social sustainability in their LGA.

Through the Sustainable Cities Awards, Keep NSW Beautiful recognises outstanding achievements for the environment and sustainability in urban communities.

The Mayor of Manly, Jean Hay, has long been a pioneer of innovation in facing the challenges of a small LGA which hosts 8 million tourists each year and is home to extensive natural reserves and wildlife.

Renewable energy, clean transport, and incentives for recycling and composting were features which made Manly Council’s entry the standout.

But engaging community participation across broad demographics was where Manly really shone.

As well as receiving recognition as the NSW Overall Sustainable Council, Manly also won the Community Actions and Partnerships Award for their ‘Friends of Cabbage Tree Bay’ volunteer group and was highly commended for working with local schools in ‘Getting started with sustainability and the Australian curriculum.

The ‘Manly Sustainability Strategy, For Today and Future Generations’ is a holistic approach to integrate sustainability into Manly’s lifestyle, involving residents and tourists in keeping Manly pristine from the moment they step off the ferry through education, infrastructure and behaviour change initiatives.

CEO of Keep NSW Beautiful, David Imrie, said ‘Since Jean Hay was first elected Mayor in 1999, she has shown tremendous leadership and commitment to managing the environment and promoting sustainability in her diverse and transient constituency.

‘Manly Council is a true role model, and no doubt their impressive portfolio of initiatives will inspire other councils.’

Early adopters of solar technology, Manly fitted out their Town Hall and all Surf Lifesaving Clubs with solar panels, as well as using solar hot water systems in community and sporting venues

The clean transport strategy engages  a clean fleet, car share spaces, cycling infrastructure and programs to support alternatives to private car use, include a free ‘hop skip and jump’ bus service.

“It was with great pleasure and immense pride on behalf of the community of Manly that I learned that Manly has been judged the  most sustainable city in NSW in the 2014 ‘Keep NSW Beautiful’s Sustainable Cities Awards’,” said the Mayor of Manly, Jean Hay AM "

“This is a great acknowledgment for all the work done on environmental sustainability by this Council over many years.”

“The Manly Sustainability Strategy is Council’s plan to ensure that Council’s decision making results in Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD).”

“The Strategy’s primary purpose is to integrate the social, economic and environmental considerations of sustainability and direct Council's initiatives to enable the people of Manly to live and work in harmony with their environment.”

“The Manly Sustainability Strategy was developed out of a partnership between Council and the community, undergoing a comprehensive review guided by the community in 2001 and 20002, with a second three year review in 2005 to 2006.”


For more information visit Manly Council