Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) congratulates Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park - winner of the Environmental Protection category in the 2017 Premier's Sustainability Awards announced last night (26 Oct).
EPA Chief Executive Officer, Nial Finegan said the Awards provided the opportunity to recognise the efforts and commitment of organisations and individuals who have contributed to protecting our environment.
“As the state’s environmental regulator, EPA is proud to sponsor the Award’s Environment Protection category and participate in publicly recognising the leadership, ingenuity and support of businesses who are playing their part in conserving and protecting the environment,” Mr Finegan said.
“Caring for our environment is the responsibility of everyone. Our environment needs human voices and human action to conserve and protect it.”
The two other finalists for the Environmental Protection category were:
- The Cape – Sustainable Housing Precinct, Cape Paterson
- Yarra Valley Water – Yarra Valley Water’s Waste to Energy Facility
eWater Systems won the top honour of the night – the Premier's Recognition Award – for their work advancing the use of a salt water solution as an alternative to chemical cleaning products.
Exemplar Health Partnership – which designed and built the New Bendigo Hospital – was chosen as winner of the Premier's Regional Recognition Award.
For more information on this year’s finalists and winners, visit www.sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au
Finalists – Environment Protection Category Premier’s Sustainability Awards
Winner - Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park – Orange-bellied Parrot Breeding for Recovery
The Orange-bellied Parrot (OBP) National Recovery Plan calls for a sustainable captive breeding program of 400 birds to help protect this endangered species against extinction. Moonlit Sanctuary on the Mornington Peninsula seized the opportunity to become a cornerstone of the Plan.
Based on learnings from a trial block of five aviaries, they designed a 20-aviary complex for up to 40 breeding birds and 100 offspring. In 2016, with support from Zoos Victoria, Moonlit Sanctuary opened a new OBP breeding facility in time for the 2016-17 breeding season.
Results from the 12 pairs was 25 offspring, and birds were supplied for Tasmanian breeding grounds and the Werribee Open Range Zoo.
Finalist - The Cape – Sustainable Housing Precinct, Cape Paterson
A housing project that not only builds energy positive homes, it develops a series of local programs to protect the site’s natural habitat.
Finalist - Yarra Valley Water – Yarra Valley Water’s Waste to Energy Facility
A waste to energy facility saves food waste and processes it into biogas via anaerobic digestion with plans to divert 33,000 tonnes of waste per year from landfill and power two treatment plants.