Victorian
Coastal Awards for Excellence 2008
Australian Geographic,
a crew of yarning Tram Conductors, a Primary School in the state's southwest,
and the team behind the reconstruction of the Lorne Pier are among this
years' winners in the Victorian Coastal Awards for Excellence. Selected
from a field of 24 finalists, thirteen winners were announced last night
at the award ceremony held in Port Melbourne.
Environment and
Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings was on hand to present Victorian
Coastal Awards to the 13 winners.
The Victorian Coastal
Council sees coastal communities, Committees of Management, Local Government,
other State Government departments and agencies and businesses as essential
partners in the management of our coasts. The Awards celebrate the achievements
of those individuals and organisations going beyond the call of duty
in protecting and enhancing our coastal values, be they natural, cultural,
or historical. Running since 1999, the Coastal Awards for Excellence
are a joint initiative of the Victorian Coastal Council and Coast Action/Coastcare.
2008
Victorian Coastal Awards for Excellence - Winners
· Margaret
MacDonald for Lifetime Achievement
· Anthony
Boxshall and Alf Willder for Outstanding Individual
Achievement
· Great
Ocean Road documentary - Australian Geographic
for Media
· Tambo
Bluff Estate Restructure - East Gippsland Shire Council for Coastal
Planning
· City
of Port Phillip - 'Planning for Climate Change' (Commendation)
·
Tarerer Festival - Tarerer Gundij
Project Association for Cultural Achievement
· Narrawong
Primary School for Education
· Corinella
Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management for Coastal Conservation
and Management by an Appointed Manager
· The
Connies for Species Protection
· North
Shore Residents Group for Coastal Conservation and Protection by
a Community Group
·
Sea Search - People and Parks
Foundation for Innovation
·
Lorne Pier Reconstruction -
DSE Public Assets, Great Ocean Road Coast Committee, Maunsell, EDAW,
and McConnell Dowell and Cape Schanck House
- Paul Morgan Architects for Building and Design
 Margaret
MacDonald:
Margaret MacDonald is testament to the notion that an individual
can actually make a difference. For many years, she has been instrumental
in leading and inspiring volunteers in the Eastern Otways area.
Margaret's has contributed her time and energies to groups including
ANGAIR, the Friends of the Eastern Otways, Friends of Moggs Creek,,
Friends of Aireys Inlet Wetlands, Friends of the Coast-Aireys Inlet,
and the Australasian Native Orchid Society. She has written books,
pulled weeds, taught students, led volunteers, and…advised
the Department of Sustainability and Environment and Parks Victoria
on more than one occasion! Margaret has shown strong leadership,
has promoted lasting partnerships, has inspired others and has achieved
some significant outcomes for conservation. |
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 Anthony
Boxshall:
During his time with Parks Victoria, Anthony made an outstanding
contribution to the development of Victoria's Marine Protected Areas
system. Anthony's contributions included the development of habitat
mapping and monitoring programs, and the coordination of communication
and education programs which have helped improve the understanding
of these unique areas among all Victorians. |
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 Alf
Willder (Posthumous Award):
For more than 20 years Alf was an active member of the Port Franklin
Public Purposes and Recreation Reserve Committee of Management.
Alf created partnerships for coastal improvements which also delivered
significant social outcomes, such as his engagement of workcrews
from the Wron Wron Prison. Alf's leadership was instrumental in
driving some big coastal enhancement projects, such as the river
wall project at Port Franklin. Sadly, Alf passed away before these
works were completed. |
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Australian
Geographic - Great Ocean Road Special:
The Great Ocean Road documentary brought the rich diversity of the
west Victorian coastline to nearly half a million Australian viewers.
The documentary showcases the region's environmental custodians,
including the Cape Otway Centre for Conservation Ecology and a southern
right whale specialist from Warrnambool. The Great Ocean Road documentary
is a beautiful piece of work and a fine example of the positive
and powerful impact of the media. |
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 East
Gippsland Shire Council - Restructure of the Tambo Bluff Estate:
The Tambo Bluff restructure plan sets out a way forward for this
old and inappropriate subdivision. Commissioned by the East Gippsland
Shire, the plan is based along sustainable development principles,
and was developed through extensive community consultation. A reduction
in density, enhancement of service provision and better protection
of natural assets are key elements. |
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 City
of Port Phillip - 'Planning for Climate Change' (Commendation):
'Planning for Climate Change' - is a strategic planning document
produced to assist in guiding coastal planning decisions within
the context of climate change. |
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 Tarerer-Gundij
Project Association - Tarerer Festival:
Held at Killarney, the Tarerer Festival highlights the ancient links
between people and the coastal lands of the far southwest. The festival
uses art to celebrate these links between people and country, and
provides an opportunity for indigenous and non-indigenous people
to forge a positive path to understanding and reconciliation. |
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 Narrawong
District Primary School:
This school of only 50 students works in partnership with the broader
Narrawong community to develop projects to protect and enhance the
local environment. Situated near the beach and the Surry River Estuary,
this small school is a terrific example of a community which values
and celebrates it's coastal assets and understands that children
of today will influence the future. |
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 Corinella
Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management:
Over the past seven years the Corinella Foreshore Reserve Committee
has worked tirelessly, carrying out extensive revegetation programs
to restore biodiversity to an area which was once severely degraded. |
Top
 The
Connies:
This group of former tram conductors inspire kids and adults alike,
through their innovative education and engagement programs. Their
use of story-telling, or "yarning" as they like to call
it, and their brilliant collector cards have helped raise awareness
of iconic coastal species such as the Hooded Plover. |
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 North
Shore Residents Group:
The North Shore Residents Group has contributed enormously to the
rejuvenation of a stretch of the Corio Bay coastal reserve, turning
this neglected former industrial area land into one of the hidden
treasures of the inner Corio Bay foreshore. |
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 The
People and Parks Foundation - Sea Search:
Sea Search is a community-based monitoring program for Victoria's
Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries. Sea Search engages over 110
volunteers who monitor rocky shores and seagrass meadows across
23 Victorian Marine Protected Areas. |
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 Lorne
Pier Reconstruction Team (EDAW, McConnel-Dowell, Maunsell, Great
Ocean Road Coast Committee, DSE Public Assets):
The Lorne Pier Reconstruction project stands out for its demonstrated
commitment to public involvement and meaningful partnership approach
to design through the engagement of a multidisciplinary design team
and involvement of the local council and community. The project
is a great example of a successful reclaiming of public open space,
resulting in significantly increased amenity for the local community
and visitors alike. |
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 Paul
Morgan Architects - Cape Schanck House:
This project was particularly strong in the area of ecologically
sustainable design, particularly with its innovative approaches
to water collection and storage, and natural cooling. The house
was also designed to only minimally disturb the surrounding natural
vegetation. The panel considered the house to be aesthetically complete,
sitting modestly and comfortably within the surrounding landscape,
and demonstrating a thoughtful design approach from first principles
through sun and wind modeling, orientation and views. |
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