28/10/2010 Sustainable Communities Competition winner announced

The Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (EMRC) is pleased to announce that Spring Road Community Kindergarten in Kalamunda is the winner of the Perth Solar City Sustainable Communities Competition.

At a special celebratory event held on Wednesday 27 October 2010 at the kindergarten, the Hon Donna Faragher Minister for Environment; Youth made a formal presentation to Spring Road Community Kindergarten as the winner of the 'Most Sustainable Community' in Perth's Eastern Region.

The competition opened in April 2010 and involved community members working together to nominate a group as the 'Most Sustainable Community' in the areas of community, practical and social sustainability and sustainable lifestyles.

Eleven groups from EMRC's six member Councils submitted nominations, from which three finalists were chosen to contest the title of 'Most Sustainable Community' in Perth's Eastern Region.

As the winner of the Sustainable Communities Competition, Spring Road Community Kindergarten has won a fully installed 2.1kW PV system, courtesy of SunPower.

The Rimmer family of Lesmurdie, a randomly selected household from one of the groups that entered the competition, was also chosen to win a fully installed 1.2kW PV system, courtesy of SunPower.

The two runner-up community groups Valley Learning Centre and Mundaring Sharing received gift vouchers from Environment House and a load of premium quality mulch from EMRC.

Kindergarten President, Belinda Grosse, said "We are thrilled to have won the competition. It was a team effort, with a large number of parents and staff involved in the competition process."

EMRC Chairman, Cr Graham Pittaway OAM, said "Spring Road Community Kindergarten is a unique venue that operates in an environmentally sustainable manner and provides a wonderful learning experience for the children who attend. They will be a great ambassador for Perth Solar City and the Shire of Kalamunda in its promotion of sustainability."

Solahart WA State Manager, Mr John Mortimer and SunPower Managing Director, Mr Bob Blakiston, said the companies were excited to be a part of the competition that encourages people to adopt solar technology and more sustainable ways of living.

Perth Solar City, as part of the Australian Government's Solar Cities program, is trialling practical and creative ways to be smarter about our energy use. The $73.5m Perth Solar City program is led by Western Power and is supported by a Consortium consisting of members from state and local government, private enterprise and energy utilities.

*EMRC's member Councils - Town of Bassendean, City of Bayswater, City of Belmont, Shire of Kalamunda, Shire of Mundaring and City of Swan.