Australia’s Tidiest Town announced (NSW)
MEDIA RELEASE
Friday 18 March 2016
Roger Smith; Deputy Mayor Chris Gryllis; David Carter, CRO Australian Packaging Covenant. Photographer: Angie Roe.
Keep Australia Beautiful has announced the winners of the 2016 Australian Tidy Towns Awards. The sustainability and litter-fighting organisation set out to recognise the hard work undertaken by individuals and groups in rural communities and share these best practices and ideas to continue to improve our vibrant rural towns. Running since 1990, the national awards are sponsored by the Australian Packaging Covenant and the Department of the Environment.
The NSW finalist Orange won Dame Phyllis Frost Litter Prevention, Waste Management and Resource Recovery at the awards event hosted by 2015 title holder Toodyay in Western Australia on 18 March. Orange was also highly commended in Environmental sustainability. The overall Australian Tidy Towns win went to Triabunna, Tasmania.
Australian Tidy Towns judge Jill Grant said, “Orange has an outstanding resource management facility with waste separation and reuse and a well-patronised shop for resale of items with proceeds going to charity.”
“The Orange Waste Project provides a comprehensive integration of services with a 58% improvement in waste diversion from landfill,” Ms Grant said.
Philip Robinson, CEO of Keep Australia Beautiful said, “Orange takes a comprehensive approach to sustainability across a range of nature, energy and water conservation projects.”
“It’s pleasing to see another year of high calibre National finalists from every corner of our amazing country,” Mr Robinson said.
The two-day event included a tour of Toodyay that showcased some of the town’s excellent projects which contributed to their win last year; an address by Rhys Williams, the 2015 WA Young Person of the year; highlights from Jill Grant’s judging tour; finalist case studies; as well as opportunities which allowed representatives the chance to share information and network with like-minded professionals from around Australia.
David Carter, CEO of the Australian Packaging Covenant (APC) said, “The Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Towns program provides an important platform for communities and their local councils to share their achievements in litter prevention and environmental sustainability.”
“The APC is pleased to be a key supporter of the nation-wide KAB Tidy Towns awards and we congratulate all finalists and the 2016 award winners.”
This year the program received 308 applicants, with 1454 category submissions across councils, shires, community groups, schools, and individuals.
The full judge reports and winners book are available at kab.org.au.
Australian Tidy Towns winners table 2016
| Category | Winner | Highly Commended |
| Community Action and Wellbeing | Mundulla, SA |
Mt Liebig, NT Triabunna, TAS |
| Dame Phyllis Frost Litter Prevention, Waste Management & Resource Recovery | Orange, NSW |
Albany, WA Mt Liebig, NT |
| Environmental Sustainability | Triabunna, TAS |
Horsham, VIC Orange, NSW |
| Heritage and Culture | Albany, WA |
Mt Liebig, NT Roma, QLD |
| Young Legends | Roma, QLD |
Mundulla, SA Triabunna, TAS |
| Environmental Education | Horsham, VIC |
Triabunna, TAS Albany, WA Mt Liebig, NT |
| Special Commendation | Mt Liebig, NT | |
| Overall | Triabunna, TAS | |
ENDS
EDITOR’S NOTES:
Photo available 12 noon AEDT.
Judge Contact: Jill Grant jagrant5@bigpond.com 0411 652 895
National Media Comment: Philip Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Keep Australia Beautiful ceo@kab.org.au 0413 354 680
National Media Contact: Alice Morgan, Communications Officer, Keep Australia Beautiful alice@kab.org.au 0416 768 387
About the Australian Sustainable Communities Awards
Keep Australia Beautiful seeks to lead, challenge and inspire all Australians to strive for a sustainable and litter free environment. It does this through research, communications programs and awards programs.
Its national awards are known as the Australian Sustainable Communities Awards which consist of the Tidy Towns, Sustainable Cities, and Clean Beaches Awards. Each awards program commences with state and territory awards and culminates in a national Grand Final event.