winners and finalists · resilient hills and coasts is a regional climate change adaptation...

WINNERS AND FINALISTS 2016

“ The project used proven extension and adoption methodologies to ensure there is effective change in attitudes and practices of farmers being influenced in this project. It goes beyond getting a ‘research message’ out to farmers – it is working through a complex topic, understanding its implications for farming enterprises and having a significant number of advisers equipped to engage and support producers in carbon management into the future. A critical element underpinning this project was that the advisers already had a trusted relationship with that client – and understood the individual business circumstances of the farm.“

Mark Stanley, Director, Regional Connections

INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS CATEGORY

REGIONAL CONNECTIONSFOR THE CARBON FARMING FUTURES OUTREACH AND EXTENSION PROJECT

Regional Connections is a Port Lincoln company that specialises in the development, management and delivery of projects concerning agriculture, natural resources management and climate change. In recent years, the business was involved in the delivery of the Australian Government’s Carbon Farming Futures Outreach and Extension Program.

The program worked with 33 trusted farm advisers from South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania who influenced more than 600 broadacre farmer clients, to help them better understand the effect of emissions from farming, and how they could incorporate carbon farming technologies into their operation.

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WINNER - OVERALL

WINNER - INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS 2016

CECILIA WOOLFORDCO-FOUNDER EYRE PENINSULA INTEGRATED CLIMATE CHANGE AGREEMENT COMMITTEE, CHAIR – STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE FAR NORTH AND OUTBACK REGIONAL ADAPTATION PLAN

“ In my view, Cecilia has been one of the most influential leaders of action on climate change in South Australia over the past decade…The legacy of Cecilia’s leadership to date is that regional South Australia is more climate ready than it would have been otherwise. Her direction, guidance and mentoring has ensured that people in regional parts of the State have greater awareness of climate change issues and the actions needed to address them. In many instances this means that regional South Australia is also more prepared to support the State’s low carbon transition. “

Mark Siebentritt, Director, Seed Consulting Services

INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY

Cecilia worked with NRM Board Member Brian Foster to lead the development of the Eyre Peninsula’s first Regional Adaptation Plan. She co-founded the Eyre Peninsula Integrated Climate Change Agreement Committee, which established one of the first sector agreements in South Australia and is seen as a prime example of climate adaptation governance in Australia.

Cecilia is currently chairing the development of the Far North and Outback Regional Adaptation Plan. In this role, Cecilia continues to promote an innovative approach to adaptation planning by supporting a leaders forum focused on integrating climate change adaptation and economic development.


WINNER - INDIVIDUAL 2016

“ We see the importance of carbon neutrality to our continued work with vulnerable South Australian communities. The most vulnerable members of our communities will be hardest-hit with climate change-related issues, such as increasing energy costs. This is an investment in the future of our organisation and of the SA community we serve.“

Simon Schrapel, Chief Executive, Uniting Communities

UNITING COMMUNITIES

COMMUNITY AND REGIONS CATEGORY

As the first South Australian organisation and first registered charity in Australia to be Certified Carbon Neutral, Uniting Communities are a true trailblazing organisation. After measuring a baseline carbon footprint in 2010, the organisation’s carbon neutral initiative then focused on their main sources of carbon emissions including energy usage, waste, paper and stationery and the fuel used in fleet and staff vehicles, commuting and air travel. This resulted in the organisation saving about $330,000 a year through reducing electricity consumption by 29%, company fleet fuel by 14% and waste to landfill by 76% while also lowering the organisation’s carbon footprint by 34%, benefiting the broader community.

Becoming carbon neutral has involved collaborating with staff and volunteers on ways to reduce carbon emissions in the workplace and encouraging this message to flow through to clients.

Understanding that one organisation alone cannot achieve the change needed to protect our community, Uniting Communities have set to challenge others to follow their lead by engaging in low carbon advocacy work with suppliers, peers and the South Australian business community.


WINNER - COMMUNITY AND REGIONS 2016

As leader of the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin (SAMDB) NRM Education team, Pippa works with young people to develop the State’s future environmental leaders. Her work sees her working with schools in the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin to instil sustainability as part of their school culture.

Founder and coordinator of Natural Resources SAMDB Carbon Action Committee, Pippa has made sure her own workplace is leading by example, encouraging her office to actively reduce their carbon footprint by carpooling, changing to LED light sources, promoting efficient use of air conditioning, ensuring sustainable procurement and promoting recycling in the office, home and at events.

PIPPA CATTANACHTEAM LEADER, NRM EDUCATION, NATURAL RESOURCES SA MURRAY-DARLING BASIN

INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY

#SAClimateAwards

“ Pippa is our local climate change champion… She doesn’t let her colleagues get despondent thinking that we can’t have an impact. Instead she reminds us, in a quiet friendly manner, that we each have a role to play, every small action contributes to greater achievement.“

Sandy Gunter, Team Leader, Communications and Engagement, Natural Resources SAMDB

www.climatechange.sa.gov.au/climateaward

FINALIST 2016

“ Understanding the likely effects of climate change on our social and ecological systems is extremely challenging…Without managed adaptation to climate change, the fundamental sustainability of these resources and practices cannot be assured. Local and regional adaptation to climate change involves more than bio-physical and economic considerations – it must involve understanding and recognition of commonly shared community values.“

Wayne Meyer, Climate Research Scientist, University of Adelaide

WAYNE MEYERCLIMATE RESEARCH SCIENTIST, UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY

Wayne is a research scientist committed to further understanding how climate and people affect the condition of the State’s soils, waters and vegetation. Wayne has promoted managed adaptation to climate change and its effects on our social and ecological systems through the development of the Landscape Futures Analysis tool.

The tool brings together the best understanding of regional land use for production and conservation to project how land use may change in response to climate, markets and social preferences, thus helping regions and communities better understand, plan and adapt as climate changes.


FINALIST 2016

“ The Adapting Northern Adelaide Climate Change Adaptation Plan has championed the integration of economic development into adaptation planning and done this to a greater extent than anywhere else in Australia.“

Timothy Kelly, Coordinator Northern Adelaide Adaptation Plan, City of Salisbury

ADAPTING NORTHERN ADELAIDE PROJECT PARTNERS


Adapting Northern Adelaide project partners:

• City of Salisbury

• City of Playford

• Natural Resources Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges

• Seed Consulting Services

• URPS

• Australian Industrial Transformation Institute

• FMG Engineering

• CSIRO

• Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources

The Adapting Northern Adelaide - Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Northern Adelaide Region was finalised in 2016 and is now in the implementation phase.

The project has been a trigger for initiatives that will raise awareness about climate adaptation and the need for action, create new collaborative projects, and champion the integration of climate adaptation and economic development within South Australia.


Photo: Michael Mullan

FINALIST 2016

“ We all know that solar PV and energy efficiency ‘pay for themselves’ and, in addition to reducing their carbon footprint, will ultimately greatly reduce an organisation’s operating expenses. However, non-profit community-serving organisations often cannot afford the up-front cost. Our interest-free loans erase that capital hurdle, and since loan repayment instalments fit within their savings on power bills, they ultimately receive a ‘free’ project.“

Margaret Hender, Chairperson, CORENA


CORENACITIZENS OWN RENEWABLE ENERGY NETWORK AUSTRALIA

Volunteer-run community organisation CORENA’s community solar and energy efficiency ‘Quick Win’ projects sees them raise donations from the public to provide interest-free loans to non-profit community organisations for the upfront cost of installing solar and LED lighting. From 2014-2016, the not-for-profit funded four solar projects (two community centres, two community child care centres) replacing lights with LED alternatives and installing a total of 22.8kW solar, with resulting grid electricity avoidance of 58.23MWh.

The innovative part of CORENA’s loan structure is that all loan repayments go straight back into a revolving fund, so the original donated funds are never ‘used up’. They are used over and over again in subsequent projects.


FINALIST 2016

RESILIENT HILLS AND COASTS


“ Project partners recognise that developing a regional adaptation plan is an important first step in raising awareness, identifying regional priorities and proposed actions. However, with a primary objective of strengthening the resilience of our communities, economies and natural environments to respond and adapt to our changing climate, project partners are determined to do more; to build on the momentum achieved during the development of the regional plan to bring about meaningful action – to both lead by incorporating climate change considerations into day-to-day decision making in their own organisations, and also to champion and support action across our regional communities, and where relevant, share our experiences.“

Kathy Hayter, Regional Coordinator, Resilient Hills and Coasts

Resilient Hills and Coasts project partners:

• Adelaide Hills Council

• Alexandrina Council

• City of Victor Harbor

• Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources

• District Council of Yankalilla

• Kangaroo Island Council

• Mount Barker District Council

• Natural Resources Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges

• Natural Resources Kangaroo Island

• Regional Development Australia – Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island

• Southern and Hills Local Government Association

Resilient Hills and Coasts is a regional climate change adaptation planning project, bringing together partners from across the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island region. The project has raised the profile of climate change among regional decision makers, who have increased engagement on climate change and on project progress and regional risks and opportunities.

The project momentum has seen all partners commit to an implementation stage. The Mayors and Chief Executives representing the six councils partnering in the project have publicly demonstrated their commitment, in the form of a written collective statement, to actively take action on climate change. The regional adaptation plan will be released shortly.


FINALIST 2016

“ Goodhouse dreams of South Australia becoming a leader in designing and constructing environmentally and site appropriate, low energy housing. Australian homes are getting larger and are using more and more energy to build and operate. With good design and appropriate construction, Goodhouse offers a sustainable alternative which minimises energy use and carbon footprint and maximises function, quality and healthy living.“

Mark Thomas, Director and Architect, Goodhouse


Goodhouse contributes to making sustainable houses affordable. Launched in 2013, the company has developed a design and construction system that delivers highly energy efficient and sustainable homes.

With hot water systems and heating and cooling requirements being the main energy users, Goodhouse designs houses with these factors firmly in mind.

This includes designing to the site and environmental conditions and using a range of non-standard alternative construction methods such as hydronic underfloor heating and structural insulated panel systems.

Goodhouse reports that each house they have designed, on average, uses less than one fifth of the energy used by a comparable house in the same area, and can be designed and built in an affordable way.


GOODHOUSE

FINALIST 2016

“ SA Water’s Energy Program demonstrates measured, ongoing, innovative and collaborative leadership in tackling climate change through successful energy management activity. It highlights the successful cost-effective opportunities implemented to adapt, optimise energy productivity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve water quality and raise awareness and our collaboration with others across Australia to do more.“

Rob Macpherson, Energy Management Lead, SA Water

SA WATER


SA Water manages and treats millions of litres of wastewater, with three major metro wastewater treatment plants processing the equivalent of about 600 Olympic-sized swimming pools every day. The energy intensive wastewater treatment activity has a significant impact on climate change in terms of emissions of greenhouse gases.

SA Water conducted detailed energy efficiency opportunities assessments on their wastewater treatment plants and then looked to optimise their energy use.

This included installing a $26M new combined heat and power station to capture biogas from the wastewater treatment process to use as fuel to produce renewable electricity and heat. SA Water reports that the clean renewable electricity self-generated at the Bolivar wastewater treatment plant is enough to power 4000 houses per year. This original and innovative approach has seen SA Water reduce emissions from wastewater treatment sites by 13,000 tonnes over the past two years and reduce costs, benefiting South Australian customers and the community.


FINALIST 2016

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WINE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION


“ A significant outcome of the environmental activities of SAWIA has been to instil cultural change in its members…But there is a much wider benefit – such engagement provides the South Australian wine sector with tangible resources to actively demonstrate how the industry engages in environmental issues and provides assistance in how the sector promotes itself domestically and globally. The wine industry has the benefit of having a perception of a green industry and strong environmental performance is an expectation of global markets…When linked to the place of origin through the industry’s Label Integrity Program it also has the potential to have a beneficial impact on South Australia as a destination and place to do business.“

Mark Gishen, Project Manager, Environment and Technical, SA Wine Industry Association

The South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) has led a culture change in climate change awareness and action in the wine sector through its Environment Program since the year 2000. In 2008, SAWIA joined with the Wine Grape Council of South Australia to enter into the first sector agreement with the State Government to accelerate action in the wine sector. SAWIA has taken a strong leadership role in educating wineries about climate change, adaptation and emissions measurement and reduction.

From assisting wineries of all sizes to identify energy ‘hot-spots’ and reduce emissions, to putting a spotlight on environmental and climate excellence through their annual Environmental Awards, SAWIA’s work has resulted in immediate and lasting environmental benefits focussed on water, electricity, greenhouse gas emissions and waste reduction.

www.climatechange.sa.gov.au/climateaward #SAClimateAwards

FINALIST 2016

winners and finalists · resilient hills and coasts is a regional climate change adaptation...

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