World Rowing Sustainability Award for Kinross Wolaroi School and Orange City Council
Kinross Wolaroi School and Orange City Council have received recognition from the international governing federation for rowing, World Rowing.
Spring Creek Dam is part of Orange’s water storage, and is currently used by Kinross Wolaroi School under strict conditions to protect two endangered duck species. With many non-native pine and willow species overrunning the banks of the dam, Orange City Council and Kinross Wolaroi School worked together, earlier this year, to clear these non-native trees and replant the area with native trees, shrubs and grasses in an effort to rebuild the ecosystem that is home to a variety of animal life including the two endangered bird species. Approximately 600 native young plants, mainly grasses were planted and mulched by Kinross Wolaroi students earlier in the year, work that is now seeing results.
World Rowing recently signed on to the Sports for Climate Action Framework, and advocate for rowing organisations to take a greater responsibility for their impact on the environment. The World Rowing Sustainability Award was set up to recognise an organisation that has implemented an innovative project or initiative delivering a clear and positive sustainability impact. The project between Kinross Wolaroi School and Orange City Council was up against four finalists who had all undertaken unique sustainability initiatives across the globe. The project was extremely well received by the selection panel, which also comprised the International Olympic Committee (IOC) sustainability manager Julie Duffus.
Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said “This project was a collaboration between Kinross Wolaroi School (KWS) and Orange City Council, school students & parents, and staff. The rowing community set up an environmentally sustainable project to regenerate the natural bush at Spring Creek Dam. It is fantastic to receive recognition from the international governing federation for rowing.”
The project, led by KWS Rowing Master in charge, Tobias Wehr-Candler, will continue to regenerate the land around Spring Creek, improving the ecosystem and water quality, while educating the rowers and students of Kinross Wolaroi School on environmental sustainability, and ecosystem regeneration. Mr Wehr-Candler accepted the award on behalf of Kinross Wolaroi School and Orange City Council at the World Rowing Awards on Friday 22 November in London.
