Sustainability Darebin Community Award

Published on 06 April 2022

Every year the Darebin Community Awards highlight the wonderful and impactful contributions our community members make to the City of Darebin.

Sustainability Award category

In the Sustainability Award category, there were two nominations the Committee decided were bringing to life the Council goal to create a Sustainable City through local projects that address climate change. The Committee awarded both a Community Group and an Individual in this category.

Find the full list of Darebin Community Award winners, how the awards work, what the different categories are and how to nominate.

Darebin Community Awards

Sustainability Award for Group of the Year: Friends of Edwardes Lake

The Friends of Edwardes Lake are a committed group of volunteers, dedicating to preserving, restoring, and caring for the diverse ecosystems of Edwardes Lake and Edgar’s Creek wetlands and surrounds, through activities such as weeding, planting, litter collections and education.

By educating the community in environmental conservation, they provide opportunities to participate in the restoration and maintenance of the biodiversity corridor and promote recreational opportunities to observe nature.

A local resident said: “The park would not be as nice without their contribution which is entirely voluntary. They should be commended for their efforts.” The Group are always on the lookout for more volunteers to become environmental guardians by joining Friends of Edwardes Lake.

The winner of the Sustainability Award for an Individual: Marcus Seal

Marcus Seal is a sustainability champion who creates projects and activities which deliver genuine and measurable action in response to environmental issues.

Marcus is the owner of Darebin business Rock Posters, a printer and installer of street posters Australia-wide. Marcus is transforming traditional practices and processes in his endeavour to become more sustainable.

Marcus’ achievements in sustainability are many. By purchasing more than four tonnes of Australian made, 100% carbon neutral paper Marcus has offset more than 10 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. Through recycling up to five tonnes of local office wastepaper destined for landfill, he saved an equivalent of 14 tonnes of CO2 landfill emissions. Marcus is pioneering the use of post-consumer-waste paper, while sourcing vegetable-based inks to replace toxic products used by industry.

A local one-man crusader, Marcus is making a real difference in sustainable practices in Darebin and beyond.