Nominate now for the 2021 Tweed sustainability awards

Residents can now nominate in four different categories for who they think are the most sustainable businesses, individuals, groups and clubs on the Tweed.

Sustainability Program Leader Debbie Firestone promoting the Sustainability Awards at the World Environment Day Festival 2021 in Murwillumbah.

Tweed residents are being encouraged to submit their nominations for the 2021 Tweed Sustainability Awards.

The biennial awards, launched in 2019, celebrate local sustainability champions and eco-friendly initiatives across the Tweed community.

Nominate an individual, school, local business, a tourism or hospitality provider, club, group or event which is helping to protect and enhance the Tweed’s internationally significant environment.

Tweed Shire Council’s sustainability program leader Debbie Firestone said the awards promoted sustainability initiatives taking place in the Tweed Shire.

“Thank you to our sustainability champions – we love your work. Now we want you to tell us about it and submit your award nomination,” she said.

“We want to praise the community’s great work and encourage others to join you – you could nominate an innovative scheme to reduce water usage taking place in the Tweed, groups or individuals that up cycle items destined for landfill, ingenious renewable energy projects – or any initiative using resources responsibility and doesn’t negatively impact on future generations.

“In business, share the successes you’ve had in reducing the environmental footprint of your operations, by turning food waste into compost or developing a more sustainable supply chain.”

There are four award categories:

• Regenerative Agriculture – Recognising outstanding contributions to the restoration of soils, waterways and biodiversity in agriculture.
• Wildlife and Habitat Conservation – Recognising outstanding contributions to the protection and conservation or active management of wildlife and native habitat.
• Tweed Tourism and Hospitality Sustainability – Recognising outstanding contributions by tourism and hospitality operators that demonstrate exceptional commitment to the environment, community and economic development of the region.
• Tweed Sustainability – Recognising outstanding contributions to improve sustainability across multiple impact areas by individuals, schools, community groups and businesses.

“The new tourism and hospitality award seeks to give special recognition to business owners in the Tweed that not only excel in providing exceptional experiences for their customers, but also bring a proactive sustainable approach, involving their clientele in that process too,” Ms Firestone said.

Past participants have thanked the awards for boosting the profile of their work and bolstering the network of like-minded people dedicated to protecting the Tweed’s environment.

All nominees will also be invited to a sustainability masterclass designed to support participants’ skills and opportunities for existing or new environmental initiatives.

Nominations can be lodged online at tweed.nsw.gov.au/tweed-sustainability-awards by 4pm on Monday, September 6, 2021.

The award winners will be announced at a showcase event on Friday, November 12, 2021.