Muswellbrook Shire Council’s Sustainability Team excelled at the Local Government NSW Excellence in the Environment Awards 2021 – winning the Division A Communication, Education and Empowerment Award for the Sustainable Futures Muswellbrook Connect program.

The Sustainability Unit put together Muswellbrook Connect along with Muswellbrook Healthy and Well, Warrior Disability Services and the Penguin Garden Club after a one-day community sustainability and health and wellbeing event was cancelled due to Covid.

Initially, the aim of the program was to keep residents connected during Covid while also encouraging sustainability in the home. The focus shifted to producing 5-minute videos that encouraged residents to:

• reduce consumption of energy, water and consumables within Council and the community
• reduce waste to landfill and enhance our recycling system
• incorporate sustainability measures into relevant business decisions and community projects
• enjoy Muswellbrook’s local areas and become involved in their rehabilitation

Muswellbrook Connect ensures that a transition to a lower emissions future is positive and achievable through small changes at home such as reducing food waste, becoming water wise and minimising energy use. The program has also encouraged the community to become more aware of its natural surroundings through works around its creeks and other catchment areas and through the Muswellbrook Urban Catchment Management Plan.

The program’s online workshops had better attendance than even some of the face-to-face events held in the past, and – once Council could begin inviting people back in-person – the program inspired an increase in volunteer numbers at rehabilitation and tree planting events.

Congratulations to Muswellbrook Shire Council’s Sustainability Team and everyone in support of the program!