The Tweed Byron Bush Futures Project finished on a high note, winning a national award in Sydney last week.
The project won the Local Government Landcare Partnership Award at the National Landcare Awards, ahead of seven other State Award winners.
The three-year, $1.7 million initiative of Tweed and Byron Shire Councils – which delivered improved urban bushland management – was completed at the end of June this year.
To help address these impacts and encourage sustainable management of bushland areas, Tweed and Byron Shire Councils received a $1.7m NSW Government Environmental Trust grant to implement the ‘Tweed Byron Bush Futures Project – Improving Urban and Peri-urban Bushland Sustainability in Tweed and Byron Shires’.
The award judges said the project was an excellent example of inter-local government collaboration, demonstrating planning and community engagement strategies that would ensure sustainable funding and enduring partnerships into the future.
Project Manager John Turnbull said the national award was “a wonderful acknowledgement of the hard work and effort from all involved, as well as the innovation and long-term benefits achieved as a result of the project’s initiatives and outcomes”.
“The award also recognises the key role that Landcare representatives and groups played in delivery of numerous workshops and community engagement activities and their commitment to engaging with Green Corp teams and contractors on the ground,” he said.
“Thanks go to the wonderful Steering Committee, contractors, bushland restoration crews, council staff, stakeholders, supporters, neighbours to work sites and residents of both shires for their support of the project,” Mr Turnbull said.
Council’s Director of Community and Natural Resources, David Oxenham, has commended the two councils, Landcare and community members who were involved.
“This was an outstanding project demonstrating innovation in terms of the project framework and outcomes, and collaboration between adjoining Councils, Byron and Tweed, Landcare and the community,” Mr Oxenham said.
Awards were presented in 12 categories, including Coastcare, Urban, Indigenous and Innovation in Sustainable Farm Practices.
For more information about the winners, visit www.landcareonline.com.au/nationalawards
For more information about the achievements of the Tweed Byron Bush Futures Project, visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/BushFutures/default.aspx.
