Published Thursday, 03 July, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
Fraser Coast companies in the running for Queensland Environmental Awards
Two Fraser Coast companies are in the running for Queensland’s top environmental awards.
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, today announced that Wide Bay Water and Maryborough Advanced Growers Group were
nominated for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Sustainable Industries Awards 2008.
“Wide Bay Water, Hervey Bay, has been nominated in the Sustainability Partnerships Award category for their new eucalyptus tree product.
“The product, ‘Eucoil’, is a joint initiative with local indigenous communities to produce high quality essential oils.
“Wide Bay Water has donated 2.2 hectares of land populated by the native eucalyptus tree, as a source for the ‘Eucoil’.
“The trees are irrigated by a drip feed system that utilises recycled water.
“The local Dhugamin people’s experience in community farming has helped make this project a success.
“It is a great example of how traditional practices can combine with modern technology to create new business opportunities.”
The Sustainability Partnerships category is sponsored by Natural Solutions.
Other finalists in this category include Forest Restorations for their re-vegetation of Karawatha Forest and Boral’s Pimpama River Revegetation Partnership.
Mr McNamara said Maryborough Advanced Growers Group was nominated for the Rural Sustainability category, sponsored by Australian Country Choice.
“The group was formed by like-minded Maryborough cane growers to pool resources and allow for investment in equipment that makes sustainable farming a reality.
“By investing collectively in equipment, farmers have reaped the benefits of sustainable farming.
“Improvements have been seen in time, labour, fuel and maintenance costs.
“The farmers have achieved great water savings and invested in environmentally friendly alternatives to weed and pest control,” Mr McNamara said.
Other finalists for the Rural Sustainability Award are Groves Grown Tropical Fruit in Yeppoon for their holistic management approach to farming and a Mt Panorama grazing property for its innovative approach to weed control.
The EPA Sustainable Industries Awards aim to increase awareness of the advantages of sustainable practices such as reducing energy and water use, reducing waste and minimising greenhouse gas emissions.
Mr McNamara said the finalists for the awards had been selected from more than 100 entries ranging from small business to large multi-million dollar companies.
“Queensland has visionary companies that are committed to developing innovative products and practices that reduce consumption of fossil fuels, water, waste and greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr McNamara said.
Award winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Gold Coast Exhibition and Convention Centre on Friday, 31 October 2008.
For more information visit www.epa.qld.gov.au or contact the EPA Sustainable Industries Division on 3225 1999.
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3336 8004
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, today announced that Wide Bay Water and Maryborough Advanced Growers Group were
nominated for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Sustainable Industries Awards 2008.
“Wide Bay Water, Hervey Bay, has been nominated in the Sustainability Partnerships Award category for their new eucalyptus tree product.
“The product, ‘Eucoil’, is a joint initiative with local indigenous communities to produce high quality essential oils.
“Wide Bay Water has donated 2.2 hectares of land populated by the native eucalyptus tree, as a source for the ‘Eucoil’.
“The trees are irrigated by a drip feed system that utilises recycled water.
“The local Dhugamin people’s experience in community farming has helped make this project a success.
“It is a great example of how traditional practices can combine with modern technology to create new business opportunities.”
The Sustainability Partnerships category is sponsored by Natural Solutions.
Other finalists in this category include Forest Restorations for their re-vegetation of Karawatha Forest and Boral’s Pimpama River Revegetation Partnership.
Mr McNamara said Maryborough Advanced Growers Group was nominated for the Rural Sustainability category, sponsored by Australian Country Choice.
“The group was formed by like-minded Maryborough cane growers to pool resources and allow for investment in equipment that makes sustainable farming a reality.
“By investing collectively in equipment, farmers have reaped the benefits of sustainable farming.
“Improvements have been seen in time, labour, fuel and maintenance costs.
“The farmers have achieved great water savings and invested in environmentally friendly alternatives to weed and pest control,” Mr McNamara said.
Other finalists for the Rural Sustainability Award are Groves Grown Tropical Fruit in Yeppoon for their holistic management approach to farming and a Mt Panorama grazing property for its innovative approach to weed control.
The EPA Sustainable Industries Awards aim to increase awareness of the advantages of sustainable practices such as reducing energy and water use, reducing waste and minimising greenhouse gas emissions.
Mr McNamara said the finalists for the awards had been selected from more than 100 entries ranging from small business to large multi-million dollar companies.
“Queensland has visionary companies that are committed to developing innovative products and practices that reduce consumption of fossil fuels, water, waste and greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr McNamara said.
Award winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Gold Coast Exhibition and Convention Centre on Friday, 31 October 2008.
For more information visit www.epa.qld.gov.au or contact the EPA Sustainable Industries Division on 3225 1999.
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3336 8004