4 November 2019
MEDIA RELEASE: ACT Environment Awards
The Canberra environment community celebrated the presentation of the 2019 ACT Environment Awards at the Conservation Council’s Spring Mingle event on Friday night.
The ACT Environment Awards celebrate the efforts and accomplishments of environmentalists and environment groups, and the contributions they have made to the environment in the ACT and beyond.
“We received a large number of nominations for all the awards this year, from a diverse range of environmental pursuits including climate change, biodiversity advocacy, sustainability education, activism and art. The Conservation Council ACT Region congratulates all nominees on their dedication and commitment to protecting our environment, ensuring a safe climate future and contributing to our community here in Canberra,” said Helen Oakey, Executive Director of the Conservation Council.
“The well-deserved winner of the CWP Renewables ACT Environmentalist of the Year was Lawrence McIntosh who has led the development of the Solarshare community solar farm project since 2012 on a purely volunteer basis,” said Helen Oakey, Executive Director of the Conservation Council.
“Lawrence is a founding member of SolarShare and the Principal Executive Officer, and with a team of dedicated volunteers, has seen the project through from the beginning to the important milestone of raising $2.37 million of investment in May this year form over 400 local Canberra residents.
“Shares have been issued and work is now proceeding to build the solar farm, which will be Australia’s largest community-run solar farm when it is built.
“It was exciting that Aoibhinn Crimmins was awarded the Moira and John Rowland Young Environmentalist of the Year for her leadership role in the Canberra School Strike for Climate movement.
“We have all felt inspired by the passion and clarity that the School Strikers have brought to the climate change debate. At the rally in Glebe Park on September 20th, Aoibhinn and the other students drew 15,000 people from across the Canberra region to participate.
“Canberra Strikers have won the support of the ACT Government and built successful coalitions with diverse organisations, and Aoibhinn has taken a prominent leadership role across all aspects of the event including media interviews and political meetings.
“There was a large number of award nominations from a diverse range of environmental pursuits including biodiversity advocacy, sustainability education, climate change and activism. The Conservation Council ACT Region warmly congratulates and thanks all nominees for their dedication and commitment to protecting our environment,” said Ms Oakey.
Award winners:
CWP Renewables Environmentalist of the Year 2019:
Winner: Lawrence McIntosh for his leadership on the Solarshare Community Solar Farm since 2012
Honourable mentions: Annie Close for work on climate activism and Dianne Thompson for her work protecting Kosciuszko National Park
Moira and John Rowland Young Environmentalist of the Year 2019:
Winner: Aoibhinn Crimmins for her work leading the Canberra School Strikers
Honourable mention: Clara McArthur for her work leading the Canberra School Strikers
Member Group of the Year:
Winner: Solarshare for their work on the Solarshare Community Solar Farm
Honourable mention: Red Hill Bush Regenerators for their work protecting and enhancing the Red Hill Nature Reserve
Back row (left to right) Shane Rattenbury MLA, Rod Griffiths Conservation Council ACT Region Board President, CWP Renewables ACT Environmentalist of the year Lawrence McIntosh, Brendan McAvoy from CWP Renewables.
Front row: (left to right) Tara Cheyne MLA, Helen Oakey Executive Director Conservation Council ACT Region, Aoibhinn Crimmins ACT Young Environmentalist of the Year, Caroline Le Couteur MLA.
Moira and John Rowland ACT Young Environmentalist of the Year Aoibhinn Crimmins accepting her award from Shane Rattenbury MLA, Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability.