Water Futures part of reason for an environmental award

Toowoomba has been recognised for its outstanding commitment to the principles and practical implementation of sustainable development and initiatives. Key to those initiatives and a reason behind the Environmental Innovation Award, as part of the Ergon Energy Tidy Towns competition, is the Water Futures – Toowoomba project.

Tidy Towns is open to all Queensland local governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait island community councils, town residents, school groups, community groups, sporting groups, environment and conservation groups, scouts, guides and others.

“Toowoomba has been rightfully acknowledged with this award,” Councillor Sue Englart, with the environment portfolio, said.

Toowoomba was congratulated for instilling a water-valuing community culture and praised for its Water Futures project, the award recognising Council’s intention to create the best sustainable solution to satisfy all economic, environmental and social issues.

“We are leading the way with environmentally friendly practices and have retained our ‘Garden City’ image despite the prolonged drought. They got it right.”

Also mentioned in the winners’ description was Toowoomba’s admirable use of Xeriscaping. Xeriscaping has become the way to landscape public and private areas without the use of water.

Toowoomba has capitalized on creative imagination, with such things as interesting rocks and logs, chip bark, white sand and coloured stones to create innovative and attractive streetscapes.

The Ergon Energy Tidy Towns competition comprises a regional competition based on eight judging regions. As a winner of one of 11 outstanding Accomplishment Awards, Toowoomba will now go through to the State Awards, which are held in August/September.