Victorian Premier's Sustainability Award winner Yarra Valley Estate urges others to enter

WINNER of the Small and Medium Enterprises category in the 2015 Premier's Sustainability Awards - Yarra Valley Estate - is now encouraging other sustainable businesses to enter the 2016 Premier's Sustainability Awards to celebrate their work.

Yarra Valley Estate is a conference, wedding and accommodation centre, located at the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. Formerly a deer park stripped bare of all its trees and shrubs, this 120 acre property has been nurtured and rehabilitated so that today it is surrounded by lush forest with organic vegetable gardens and a private wildlife rehabilitation centre, Babbajin Park. 

To ensure continual improvement, Yarra Valley Estate has measured its footprint and benchmarked operations locally and globally. The business has formalised policies and procedures to offset the business to carbon neutral and to remain in line with the purpose that the business perform public good through nurturing people’s wellbeing and helping reconnect them back to nature.

Louise Ward, owner of Yarra Valley Estate, encourages business owners all over Victoria to enter the awards this year.

"Winning the Award shows you don't have to be a big corporation or have a lot of budget to run a sustainable business," she says. "For our staff, our customers and our community, entering has been probably one of the best things we've ever done."

Sustainability Victoria CEO, Stan Krpan, congratulated the Yarra Valley Estate team for their sustainable project, and for their commitment to improving Victoria’s environment.

“Delivering these awards each year means we continue to discover the talent and passion Victorians have for protecting their natural environment and minimising the impacts of climate change.

“We encourage participation across all sectors, focussing on delivering a triple bottom line – environmental, economic, and social benefits for Victoria,” Mr Krpan said.

Now in their 14^th year, the Premier's Sustainability Awards continue to promote leadership and innovation in sustainability, and encourage a broader adoption of these practices by all Victorians.

There are 10 categories in this year’s awards program - Built Environment, Community, Education, Environmental Justice, Environmental Protection, Government, Health, Innovative Products or Services, Large Business, and Small and Medium Enterprises.

See Louise Ward's video story and more information at

http://www.sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au/small-and-medium-enterprises

Register now to attend an information session for guidance on preparing a compelling entry, to ask questions relating to category eligibility and hear about benefits of entering. 

To register email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Session dates are Wednesday 18 May (2-4pm) and Thursday 9 June (10am-12pm).

For more information, go to www.sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au

Entries close 5 pm Monday 27 June 2016.  

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