Orange gets Blue Star for environmental wins

Towns across NSW have been recognised for their environmental efforts in the new Keep NSW Beautiful Blue Star Sustainability Awards – with Orange named the overall winner for its strong volunteer force.

The winning projects were announced on 7 November as part of a weekend celebration in Gloucester, NSW.

The regional awards, which grew out of the Sustainable Cities, Clean Beaches and Tidy Towns award programs, are designed to promote environmental sustainability, litter reduction, and community engagement through volunteer work.

Orange won the Overall Regional Sustainability Award for working towards its sustainability goals.

“The town has an outstanding volunteer force; has learnt from the past and effectively drought-proofed the town with a range of initiatives; and has a rich cultural history, as seen in its relocation and restoration of Banjo Patterson’s Emmaville cottage,” said program manager Emma Sinclair.

Orange was awarded a year’s free battery recycling program from MRI E-Cycling Solutions and will now also go on to represent NSW in the Keep Australia Beautiful National Tidy Towns Awards.

Keep NSW Beautiful chief executive David Imrie said there were almost 200 entries from regional and rural NSW.

“There is a dedicated population from all over the state, fiercely committed to creating positive change in their communities,” he said.

Other NSW areas recognised for their achievements and projects included Berrigan, Eurobodalla, Coffs Harbour, Cooma, Wagga Wagga, Port Stephens, Cabarita Beach, Tomakin, Hastings Point, Warialda Gwydir, Lithgow, Lockhart, Maitland, Fingal Head and Narooma.