Last night in Melbourne, Environment Victoria recognised the achievements of six remarkable community groups and individuals for their outstanding contribution to the environment over the past twelve months.
The 2024 Community Environment Awards recipients have all done remarkable work in their communities, leading groundbreaking and impactful campaigns to protect nature and diversify the environment movement, working with very limited resources.
We are delighted and proud to recognise the remarkable achievements of the following groups:
Grassroots power building
Moonee Valley Sustainability Group
Moonee Valley Sustainability, a volunteer run community group in Melbourne’s North-west, have proven to be an extremely effective and impressive local group providing strategic and practical support for their local community who want to address the impacts of climate change, pollution and extreme heat.
They have built community networks and started transforming their Ascot Vale headquarters into a cool safe space to help protect locals from health impacts during extreme heat. They regularly organise community clean ups to care for waterways and run monthly events to reduce waste going to landfill, repair goods and educate people about recycling.
On receiving the Grassroots power building award, the group said:
“This award from a highly regarded group such as Environment Victoria validates that our mission, to inspire our community to care for County and act on climate, is having a meaningful impact at the local level. We are extremely grateful for this recognition as it will help us reach a wider audience on the journey to achieving our vision of a climate safe and pollution free Moonee Valley for all.”
Friends of Nyah Vinifera Park Inc
Friends of Nyah Vinifera Forest formed in 1996 and are concerned with preserving and sharing the natural and cultural values of the Nyah Vinifera Park and other floodplain ecosystems of the Swan Hill region. They were involved in the VEAC studies that led to river red gum parks and campaigned for the Basin Plan to return water to rivers.
They work closely with the Wadi Wadi Traditional Owners. Jacqui Kelly, Peta Thornton and Nicole McKay are sisters and cousins who have been driving this work for decades — through Friends of Nyah Vinifera Park and Sustainable Living in the Mallee, as well as Jacqui and Nicole being local councillors.
The last twelve months have been an intense period involving participation in Environment Report and Environment Effects Statement public hearings, Federal Water Act Restoring Our Rivers Amendments campaign and hosting of the second bi-annual River Peoples Forum, this one focussed on Water Justice for First Nations.
All this amongst ongoing work explaining complex water policy and politics to the local community through meetings and workshops – they have proven themselves very passionate and dedicated long-term volunteers in the rivers campaign.
Campaign impact
OCEAN (Otway Coastal Environment Action Network) & friends/alliance members
OCEAN (Otway Coastal Environment Action Network) is a grassroots community group based along the South-west Victorian coastline with a focus on stopping seismic blasting and new gas development in the Otway Basin. OCEAN was formed by members of the community who share an intrinsic connection to the coastal and marine environment, starting from Ocean Grove and extending along the coast to Portland.
OCEAN campaigns against seismic blasting as the first step in new offshore gas development, which is both highly damaging to the marine environment, in the search for a fossil fuel which is exacerbating the climate crisis. OCEAN’s strategy is to both raise awareness of the destructive practices of seismic blasting and gas development through community engagement and information nights, as well as mobilising communities to oppose these practices through rallies, marches, paddle outs and voicing their concerns to local representatives.
The group was central to the recent campaign win that saw energy data company TGS withdraw its application to conduct seismic blasting in search of gas across a 7.7 million hectare area in the Southern Ocean.
Little River Action Group & Grassy Plains Network
The Little River Action Group and Grassy Plains Network have both been instrumental in stopping freighting giant Pacific National building a giant freight terminal on 550 hectares of grasslands on the edge of their small town in Melbourne’s west. The terminal would have severely impacted their town and threatened the livelihood of grasslands that were home to native plant and animal species.
The Little River Action Group formed to protect the Green Wedge Zone (Western Plains South) and surrounding area of Little River, Victoria, from inappropriate development and to maintain and enhance its native flora and fauna. The Grassy Plains Network advocates for the protection of grasslands across Victoria, including flowering meadows and the plants and creatures that call them home.
The groups successfully challenged the project that would have destroyed the ambience of their town by having freight and heavy machinery activities round the clock, and after ongoing community pressure, media events and a well organised campaign, Pacific National eventually backed down from continuing with their plans.
Innovation Award
Asian Australians for Climate Solutions
Dr. Corinne Ang founded Asian Australians for Climate Solutions in 2022, alongside a few like-minded friends from Asian backgrounds. The group’s mission is to empower the Asian Australian community to take meaningful action against climate change.
The group has adopted innovative approaches to electrification campaigning, and supported and nurtured leadership from Asian Australian communities, which now make up 20% of Australia’s population. The groups campaigning and advocacy efforts have included induction cooking demonstrations at Whitehorse Council and community outreach stalls around Melbourne. They have also been involved in climate conferences elevating the voices of Asian Australians within the climate movement and worked consistently to cultivate a strong, climate-conscious Asian Australian community in Victoria, ready to address the pressing challenges of climate change.
On receiving the Innovation award, the group said:
“As members of these communities ourselves, we believe we are uniquely positioned to raise awareness and promote sustainable practices. By amplifying the voices of Asian Australians, we strive to ensure that our community actively contributes to shaping a sustainable future for everyone.”
Leadership Award
Josie Hess & Steph Sabrinskas for Life After Coal & 10-Years-on Morwell Community Day
For the past five years, Josie Hess and Steph Sabrinskas have documented the energy transition taking place on Gunaikurnai Land in Gippsland as independent filmmakers and activists.
Their award-winning projects—spanning media, film, art, and impact work—focus on activism, climate action, environmental issues, and mine rehabilitation. They have collaborated with nonprofits, government organizations, industry, and businesses on corporate content, event coverage, and speaking engagements.
This award is to commend Josie Hess & Steph Sabrinskas for their excellent work on the Life After Coal Impact Campaign, leading the 10-Years-On: Community Day in Morwell and film making of Ashes to aftermath: ten years on from the Hazelwood mine fire and After the Smoke, films that tell the story of the mine fire and brings community together to commemorate, reflect and plan for the future of the local community beyond coal.
On receiving the Leadership award, the group said:
“Winning this award is not just a recognition of our efforts but a chance to put a spotlight on Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley at a critical time. Our community is navigating the profound challenges of the renewable energy transition, the pending closure of coal mines, power stations and the pressing need for mine rehabilitation. The ripple effects are far-reaching, impacting workers, families, and the environment for generations to come. We are committed to sharing stories from our community and advocating for a fair and just transition for all. But we need the entire state of Victoria to pay attention to help secure a future where the lights stay on, jobs are replaced, and our environment thrives. Thank you to our incredible partners, participants, and supporters who have made our work possible.”
James Norman, Media and Content Manager 0451 291 775
j.norman@environmentvictoria.org.au