Winton was named on Friday as Queensland’s Tidiest Town for 2016 by environmental organisation, Keep Queensland Beautiful.
CEO David Curtin commended the whole-of-community response to move towards a more sustainable community exhibited by the western Queensland town.
"From waste reduction and litter prevention, solar and geothermal energy, and heritage and culture projects, Winton, without a doubt is making a real effort to protect and conserve their natural environment,” he said. "Tourists fall in love with Winton and I can see why."
The awarding of a four-star Tidy Town rating for the town of less than 1000 residents for its commitment to a cleaner and more sustainable township had mayor Butch Lenton smiling from ear to ear.
Eighteen months after the fire that destroyed the Waltzing Matilda Centre, it was a proud honour for Cr Lenton to talk about the way his “unique part of Australia quietly goes about its business, endeavouring to enhance not only the lifestyle experience of locals but also the many travellers who visit this wonderful little outback town”.
“We are fortunate to have community members, staff and volunteer groups who work for the betterment of the Winton community and broader region,” he said.
A raft of reasons were given by Keep Queensland Beautiful for the prestigious title going to Winton, including its $3.5m geothermal energy investment, the Lark Quarry refurbishment, free public wifi, the integration of QR codes for tourists, and the new Outback Writers Festival.
The judging panel was also impressed with the One Million Stars community engagement project, signage to protect Long Waterhole, the Willie Mar heritage protection, publicly available water usage information, and the Winton War Heroes project.
The Australian Age of Dinosaurs attraction was as popular with judges as it is with the public, who also noted the town’s well-known dinosaur-shaped bins to help litter prevention.
It’s not the first time Winton has been in the Tidy Towns winners’s circle; in 2010 it won the western Queensland region award.
Roma was last year’s state winner of the program that aims to recognise and reward work occurring across Queensland.
Keep Queensland Beautiful hopes its programs motivate people to enhance the quality of their local environment through personal initiative and community action.
Tidy Towns is the organisation’s flagship, and has been adjusted to an accreditation program to better reflect the comprehensive approach that has been a part of the ethos for many years.
Each town is now recognised through a 1 to 5 star rating system based on their performance in key focus areas; Environmental Innovation and Protection, Heritage and Culture, Community Spirit, Litter Action, Resource Recovery, Waste Management, Water Conservation and Energy Efficiency.
Tidy Towns started in Queensland in 1974.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
