Goulburn Mulwaree Council has taken home the Communication, Education and Empowerment Award at the 2024 Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Excellence in the Environment Awards for its innovative Call Before You Clear campaign.
The initiative was launched to address the rise of illegal vegetation clearing in the Goulburn Local Government Area. By partnering with NSW Government agencies, the Council worked to educate the community, landowners and local businesses on native vegetation preservation and clearing regulations.
“I am incredibly proud of the team for their dedication and innovation in delivering the Call Before You Clear campaign. This award is a testament to the hard work and collaboration that went into addressing illegal clearing and promoting environmental stewardship in our community,” said Council Acting CEO, Scott Martin.
“The success of this initiative highlights the power of working together – both within our council and with external partners – to achieve meaningful change.”
The campaign fostered enhanced interagency cooperation, streamlined processes, and revealed critical gaps in public understanding, highlighting the need for accessible resources.
It also underscored the importance of proactive, community-focused approaches to environmental protection, setting an example for future initiatives in other LGAs.
Supported by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the project was named the overall winner of its category at the prestigious awards.
Council encourages landowners across the LGA to engage with these valuable resources and contact relevant approval agencies if they are unsure of the regulations surrounding clearing prior to undertaking any vegetation removal. Last week in Goulburn Local Court two parties responsible for a large scale unauthorised clearing incident on Mayfield Road, Tarago were fined $60,000 each following Council enforcement of the matter.
“The significant penalty imposed by the Court in relation to this unauthorised clearing incident sends a strong message about the seriousness of the unauthorised clearing offence committed and the importance of protecting our regions threatened native vegetation and biodiversity,” said Mr Martin.
Resources and further information regarding the approvals required prior to clearing of vegetation and the Call Before You Clear campaign are available at
https://www.goulburn.nsw.gov.au/Development/Environment-Heritage/Call-Before-You-Clear.
