Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Media Release
Randwick's Environmental Success Buoys The Greens
The Greens are going into the Council elections buoyed by the success of
their main environmental initiative on Council, the "Sustaining Our City
Initiative", set up under former Greens Mayor Murray Matson.
Over the last four years the program has attracted $2.6 million in State
and Federal Government funding mainly for resource conservation, Coastal
walkway work, and energy and water conservation. A possible further $2.7 million is awaiting decisions.
The program has won 13 major environmental awards establishing Randwick
as the leading "Green" Council in Australia.
Cr Matson said this week,
"The resounding success of the Sustaining Our City initiative would
never have happened under the previous Labor lead Council. Labor opposed the
Greens over it during my Mayorship in 2004."
A Council report to be debated next Tuesday by the Council's Environment
Committee concludes,
"Randwick's sustainability efforts under Council's environmental
levy program has attracted substantial external recognition and resourcing from
external grants and awards programs. Further opportunities exist for similar
recognition and grants for the remaining months of the levy program. The
additional resources and recognition provided over this time demonstrate the
added benefit of the levy program and Sustaining our City to Council and its
community."
(Environment Report No.
E21/08
http://businesspapers.randwick.nsw.gov.au/Open/2008/EN_12082008_AGN_AT_WEB.HTM)
Contact: Greens Deputy Mayor Murray Matson