A free ‘smart gardening’ program was last night recognised as the winner of the Community Champion award in the Thriving Environment category at the 2023 Premier’s Sustainability Awards.
A cross-council collaboration between Hobsons Bay, Moonee Valley, Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Wyndham, Stonnington, Merri-bek, and Yarra City councils, My Smart Garden is a free sustainable gardening program that supports residents to transform their outdoor spaces into productive, functional gardens.
Offering solutions for small rental balconies through to larger suburban gardens, the Councils say the program has successfully changed behaviours across five themes: food, waste, water, shelter, and habitat.
The program also tackles climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource consumption, and increases health and wellbeing through food security, cost-of-living help, improving physical and mental health, and providing social connection.
In an address celebrating the 21st Premier’s Sustainability Awards, Victorian Minister for Environment, Steve Dimopoulos said he was proud of the journey Victorians are taking to make our state more sustainable and acknowledged the work of the leaders and change makers to reduce waste, boost recycling and use our precious resources carefully.
Sustainability Victoria’s Interim CEO, Matt Genever said he applauded the councils involved for their collaborative approach to the My Smart Garden project.
“My Smart Garden has demonstrated some fantastic sustainability outcomes and is a program with tremendous potential to be rolled out more widely across Victoria.”
The Premier’s Sustainability Awards celebrate the businesses, government and community leading the way in sustainable innovation and practices.
There are two winners for each of the six categories, which were refreshed in 2021 to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. The Community Champion Award recognises individuals and small organisations, and the Industry Leader Award celebrates medium and large organisations driving a sustainable future.
To view the profiles of all winners and finalists, visit www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/psa-2023-winners.
