Euroa is leading the way when it comes to sustainability, taking out three of the Victorian Premier Sustainability Awards at a ceremony on September 20.
The Euroa Environment Group Inc. (Euroa Energy) took out the category ‘Future Energy’ for its Solar Pergola project.
The group partnered with Mondo Energy and the Victorian Government to trial a small business microgrid to build resilience into the local power supply.
Strathbogie Shire Council Mayor Cr Laura Binks congratulated the group and said all businesses involved had benefited from a reduction in their power costs, as well as learning plenty about the capacity of the local grid network and how local contributors can play a role in building better capacity for local generation.
Cr Binks also congratulated the Euroa Arboretum which not only took out the ‘Thriving Environment’ category but was also awarded the Premier’s Regional Recognition Award.
“The Euroa Arboretum is a testament to how a simple paddock can be turned into a thriving space. The Arboretum is now a fantastic green space, home to 60 different grasses, daisies, lilies and peas, as well as insects, birds, reptiles and gliders,” Cr Binks said.
“The Arboretum has been so widely embraced by our community, from a bush kinder program, assisting with seed collection and butterfly studies, to faithful volunteers who enjoy collecting, cleaning and then sowing seed back into the site.”
“The Arboretum reflects much of Council’s important work too – being one of the key user groups that forms the Greening Euroa Committee who are working hard to secure funding to deliver recycled water to Euroa’s biggest users.
“They are also closely linked to First Nations people and Traditional Owners – the Taungurung Land and Waters Council (TLaWC) – who work collaboratively with the community to manage the restoration of the grassland and offer cultural workshops and activities at The Arboretum.
“We would like to extend a huge congratulations to the Euroa Environmental Group and the Euroa Arboretum for being recognised for the incredible work they do to ensure our local environment stays sustainable into the future.”
