- Latest News
HIGHLY COMMENDED: City of Whyalla CEO Chris Cowley with the KESAB award presented last week.
Whyalla’s Wilson Park upgrade has received high praise at the KESAB 2018 Sustainable Communities Awards.
Wilson Park shared the Overall Project Highly Commended honour with the District Council of Elliston and its waste transfer station project. Whyalla and Elliston’s recognition effectively means they finished equal second to the City of Victor Harbor’s railway turntable in the council category.
KESAB Community Engagement Manager, Alex Hammett said the projects in Whyalla and Elliston just couldn’t be split behind the Victor Harbor winner. She also revealed that Whyalla was right up there in the running for Best Large Town.
“All three of these projects (Overall Project – Council) were very impressive and it was simply too close to call between Whyalla and Elliston,” Alex said.
“Whyalla put in another strong entry into the awards this year. Some standout initiatives included Wilson Park, the upgrades at Cuttlefish Drive, the Jim Pollock memorial at the Whyalla Wetlands and continued work on coastal erosion.
“Whyalla was up against a number of other councils for Outstanding Projects and, along with Murray Bridge, provided some tough competition for Victor Harbor in the Best Large Town category.
“Whyalla should be proud of the initiatives undertaken in the past year.”
Council CEO Chris Cowley proudly accepted the highly commended award at the KESAB presentation. KESAB’s Sustainable Communities is a focus for hundreds of regional communities to showcase positive actions taken by communities, schools, businesses and councils across SA to protect their local environment, enhance their towns, embrace sustainability and showcase their initiatives.
“This commendation illustrates so much that is great about our community and our Council,” Chris said.
“This project to upgrade Wilson Park has involved the community and Council to produce a park that the whole city can be proud off.
“I’d especially like to thank all the Council staff involved … the passion and pride they’ve shown in getting the upgrade down has been remarkable.
“The Council work crews have been instrumental is getting this work done but there are so many people in the background – in our infrastructure department, finance, community, planning and more – that have also had invaluable input into making this happen.
“This award shows the whole of South Australia how Whyalla is moving forward as one.”
Alex said the awards highlighted the best examples of long-term sustainable practices in regional communities.
“Small, medium and large towns from across the state submitted entries into the Awards this year and the quality was high,” Alex said.
“The program is all about people getting together to contribute to a better place to live, work and play, to create a place where visitors are delighted to come, and locals want to stay. At the same time, it’s about protecting, conserving, managing and improving SA’s precious natural environment.
“The awards are a way of recognising and acknowledging the hard work, long hours, bright ideas, passion, enthusiasm and spirit of regional South Australians and their communities.”
WHAT THE JUDGES SAID ABOUT WILSON PARK
Wilson Park has had a complete transformation. This includes the resurfacing of tennis courts and basketball courts, a rock feature next to the courts serving as seating and a mini amphitheatre, installation of seats, shelters and barbecues, development of a scooter track and a skate bowl – with solar lights, murals to the walls of the existing toilets and the installation of irrigated turf. This once very tired park is now brimming with people and is a much-needed upgrade, as it serves as a gateway into Whyalla, used by both tourists and residents.
2018 SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES AWARDS
Overall Project Winner – Council: City of Victor Harbour (Victor Harbor Railway Turntable)
Overall Project Highly Commended – Council: City of Whyalla (Wilson Park Upgrade) and District Council of Elliston (Elliston Waste Station)
Overall Project Winner – School: St Catherine’s School Aquaponics
Overall Project Winner – Community: Ardrossan Progress Association (Ardrossan Museum and Information Outlet)
Overall Project Highly Commended – Community: Port Julia Progress Association (Port Julia Campground)
Overall Project Winner – Combined: Alexandrina Council, Alexandrina Community Nursery, Goolway to Wellington LAP Group and Goolwa Coastcare
Overall Project Highly Commended – Combined: District Council of Streaky Bay and Streaky Bay Tourism
Best Small Town: Avon
High Commended Medium Town: Streaky Bay
Best Medium Town: Ardrossan
Best Large Town: Victor Harbor
Best Overall School: Tenison Woods College
Overall Winner: Ardrossan