banksia business

It was terrific to learn that the Shire of Yarra Ranges Sustainable Business Program has been listed as a finalist in the Banksia Environmental Awards for the "Education – Raising the Bar" category.

The Banksia Environmental Awards are regarded as the most prestigious environmental awards in Australia. It's an honour to be selected as a finalist in the awards and is a credit to the Economic Development Department who work with local businesses and the Sustainable Business Program.

The Yarra Ranges Sustainable Business Program assists local businesses to embrace sustainability. The program empowers companies to use new tools and thinking to drive environmentally sustainable practices in their businesses that considers people and planet, and it's good for the bottom line too. As a direct result of the Sustainable Business Program, program participants have introduced energy saving initiatives that have saved up to 3,300 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (not including the 2009 program).

Other notable sustainable practices that program participants have introduced into their businesses include adopting significant behaviour change strategies that have allowed a number of participants to reengage with staff and strongly boost staff morale, in turn reducing staff turnover and empowering key staff to take leadership in their organisations and implementing best practices for marketing sustainability and for formulating sustainability policies that pertain to tendering for public contracts which have significant export operations.

The Banksia Awards Ceremony will be held on Friday 15th October 2010 at the Sydney Town Hall.

Here I am pictured with Brent and CJ, proprietors of Limerence, at the opening of their new store in Belgrave. Small business plays an important role in the Shire of Yarra Ranges and the Sustainable Business Program is one of the ways council supports small business. 59.7% of businesses in Yarra Ranges consist of only the owner/operator, whilst 28.2% employ between 1 and 4 people, combined these businesses make up a large proportion of the business community in our local economy.

Limerence is well worth a visit, it is a unique retail space located at 1642 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave. Brent and CJ strive to provide an environment, which brings the local community together to celebrate all things creative. They are committed to keeping it local, and keeping it fair and aspire to provide the community with Australian, hand made fashion and jewellery, as well as be a commercial exhibition space for artisans of all kinds.

climate emergency rally

Saturday, the 5th July, I joined with 5000 other Victorians, most dressed in red, to participate in the Climate Emergency Rally and Giant Human Sign.

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We started in the City Square and marched to the Alexandra Gardens to take part in forming a massive 140 metre human Climate Emergency sign.

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Senator Bob Brown spoke at the rally about the government’s inaction and stressed the importance of Australia taking action to address climate change now.

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"Climate change is a disaster which is on our doorstep. We, in this wealthy lucky nation, must take a lead for the rest of the world to follow."
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Mention of the desalination plant, brown coal power stations, freeways & tunnels all received a resounding jeer from rally goers.

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Jasmine from the Sherbrooke Community School was there with a petition to reverse the means test on the Solar Panel rebate scheme, which I was happy to sign.

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It was great to see some of the Yarra Ranges community at the rally.
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These people from Wonthaggi had a clear message for the DSE.

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I am committed to addressing climate change at a local level, it was great news to hear that the Shire of Yarra Ranges is a finalist in the Local Government section of the Banksia Awards. The awards aim to raise the profile of the current environmental issues facing Australia and recognise those whose initiatives are an encouragement and an example for others to follow. If you'd like to know more visit http://www.banksiafdn.com/index.php?page=351#Local.

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The rally was timely, the Garnaut report released on Friday cements the views of participants, we must do something now, we cannot afford inaction any longer.

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For the full media release click here