improvement and sustainability has paid

off for Centroc’s Sustainability Programs

Manager, Rachael Young who was awarded the

inaugural Louise Petchell Memorial Award for

Individual Sustainability.

The Hobbys Yards local said she was

“amazed” to receive the award at the recent

Local Government and Shires Association

Excellence in the Environment Awards in

Sydney, for her ongoing work with the Centroc

councils. “I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

“I’ve worked with Centroc for three years

and in that time the sustainability agenda has significantly advanced.”

Ms Young said she was honoured to receive the

award from the family of the award’s namesake,

Louise Petchell who was a frontrunner in sustainability

as the Sustainability Unit Manger at Penrith City

Council.

“She was really well respected for her work,” she

said.

Centroc is currently working with member councils

to assess their climate risk and improve their climate

change adaptability, Ms Young said.

Another recent initiative of Centroc is the Shiny

Halo Blog that encourages community members to act

sustainably.

“They can tell us what environmental work they are

doing and if they tell us which shire they are from we

plant a tree in their shire,” she said.

In the New Year, Ms Young is starting a business

sustainability program and will continue mentoring

Centroc council staff including staff from Blayney

Shire Council.

She is will also begin a series of carbon expos

inconjunction with the Lachlan Catchment

Management Authority at the Blayney show in March

to offer residents advice and information how to live

more sustainably.

“The expos will highlight what sustainable products

are available for Blayney and which businesses in

Blayney offer sustainable products such as solar panels,”

she said.

Centroc chair Phyllis Miller said Rachael had

embraced the challenge to make this region the most

sustainable in Australia “wholeheartedly”.

“She has the respect of the mayors and general managers

from across the region and has worked extremely

hard to support the Sustainability Project Officers and

their sustainability support teams,” she said.