Yarra City Council and Merri-bek City Council have been announced as joint finalists for the 2023 Premier’s Sustainability Awards.
The 2 councils have been nominated in the ‘future energy’ category for the ‘community champion’ award for the co-designed Unlocking Sustainable Strata program.
The Premier’s Sustainability awards is delivered by Sustainability Victoria and recognises Victorians who are leading the way to a sustainable future.
Yarra City Council and Merri-bek City Council created the Unlocking Sustainable Strata program to ensure that individuals who live in apartments or townhouses – more than 1 in 4 Victorians – are not left behind in the transition to sustainable energy. This is particularly important for Yarra, where 87.5% of dwellings are medium or high-density.
The program involved the development of 5 plain English guides that residents can use to unlock sustainable infrastructure in a range of medium or high-density housing.
The program was developed by the 2 councils in partnership with experts from HIP V. HYPE Sustainability, The Knight, and Strata Community Association Victoria (SCA Vic).
2 sustainable apartments events were held as part of launching the Unlocking Sustainable Strata guides, with a great response from the community.
Since the program was launched, the plain-English guides have been downloaded 710 times and the program has engaged with 563 people and, via SCA Vic, with 52 strata managers.
Yarra City Council Deputy Mayor, Edward Crossland, said that collaborations between councils and experts was essential to the program’s success.
“This program directly addresses the needs of our community who told us that living in an apartment is one of the top barriers to solar, and that there is a high level of interest in more Council programs and events to support apartment residents with sustainability.”
“The positive community response, to the Unlocking Sustainable Strata program, along with being nominated for this award, speak to the potential of cross-council collaboration when it comes to key issues that all inner-city councils face.”
“Together with Merri-bek City Council we are honoured to be nominated for this sustainability award and proud to be leading the way in this space.”
If you’re interested in learning more about this program or reading the Unlocking Sustainable Strata guides, you can do so
