BAYSIDE has scooped the 2009 Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Sustainable Cities Community Government Partnership award for the Bayside Environmental Friends Network, which aims to preserve and promote the natural environment of the municipality.

Bayside Mayor Councillor James Long said he was delighted that Bayside had won this award, which demonstrates a vibrant partnership between Council and the community with a shared commitment to the environment.

“This is positive recognition of the good work carried out by Council and the Bayside community and a real inspiration for that work to continue,” Cr Long said.

“It is especially encouraging as the Bayside Environmental Friends Network was started relatively recently by Council, in early 2008, and is now a passionate part of the Bayside community, offering opportunities for people to have a positive impact on the environment.”

The Bayside Environmental Friends Network provides a forum for environmental volunteers to network in Bayside and beyond, to plan events and publicity, and to develop and expand the Friends program within Bayside. The work is done in partnership with Council’s Parks team.

It also offers partnerships with organisations, schools and individuals, and the chance for local people to discover an unknown neighbourhood in their own backyards.

“The whole idea behind the Bayside Environmental Friends Network is to engage the public in environmental activities and strategies to communicate the importance of Bayside’s natural heritage to the wider Bayside community and beyond,” Cr Long said.

“This award is certainly a great boost that takes us further towards that aim and we hope it will create even more engagement with the local community.

“With the ongoing interest and active participation of local people through the Bayside Environmental Friends Network supported by Council’s Parks team, we can look forward to preserving and safeguarding our environment for future generations.”

Bayside was also a finalist for the 2009 KABV Clean Beaches Friendliest Beach award for Ricketts Point. Launched in 2004, the Clean Beaches Awards aim to enhance the overall environment of bay and coastal beach communities.

The Sustainable Cities Awards are in their fifth year and promote sustainable practices in metropolitan Melbourne. Barbara Jakob, Coordinator of the BEFN and Cr Michael Norris accepted the Sustainable Cities Community Government Partnership award on Friday 29 May 2009.

The ceremony was attended by the Honourable Gavin Jennings MLC, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change.