Council Wins Communication, Education and Empowerment Award
Published on 12 December 2024
The winners of the 2024 Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Excellence in the Environment Awards were announced at a special ceremony held at Dockside, Cockle Bay Wharf in Sydney, celebrating the achievements of NSW councils in environmental management.
Goulburn Mulwaree Council took home the Communication, Education and Empowerment Award 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 (LGA). By partnering with NSW Government agencies, the Council successfully educated 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. The success of this initiative highlights the power of working together—both within our council and with external partners—to achieve meaningful change." said Scott Martin, Acting CEO, Goulburn Mulwaree Council.
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, this 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 Scott Martin, Acting CEO, Goulburn Mulwaree Council.
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