Randwick City Council’s much-loved Eco-Living Expo was recognised at last week’s 2019 Local Government Awards night picking up the top gong in the RH Dougherty Innovation in Special Events category.

Randwick Council’s internal values program ICARE was also awarded picking up a highly commended in the Planning Awards Culture Change Innovation and Excellence category.

The awards were presented by the Minister for Local Government Ms Shelley Hancock and the President of Local Government NSW Councillor Linda Scott.

The Eco-Living Expo was established in 2005 and has grown to become the eastern suburbs biggest free community and sustainability-focused festival promoting innovative green-living in a fun family-friendly way.

The expo includes engaging speakers, workshops and demonstrations, market stall, innovation expo and children’s entertainment.

The event is produced entirely inhouse by Randwick Council staff including staff across the Council from the Sustainability, Events, Communications, Community Service, Waste and Maintenance Departments.

In presenting the award, judges noted that “use of social media helped with significant growth and development of the festival and with creating better ecological outcomes”.

Randwick Mayor Kathy Neilson commended the staff on the award win.

“I want to thank all the hard-working staff on the Eco-Living Expo and our ICARE program. These awards are testament to your hard work and commitment to sustainability and our residents.

“I also want to thank our residents for attending the event year in, year out. It’s grown bigger and better thanks to your ongoing support. We love talking about sustainability and sharing tips and helping families make a difference in their lives,” Mayor Kathy Neilson said.

The Eco-Living Expo is on again this year on Sunday 22 September 2019 from 10am to 4pm at the Randwick Community Centre.

About the Eco-Living Expo

Celebrating its 14th year, the Eco Living Expo is the ultimate day out for the family to learn about simple and fun sustainable practices to use in day to day life.

New and popular activities include:

• Speaker series
  • Dr Karl - Zero emissions by 2030. Can we get there and how
  • Camille Reed - The Circular Fashion Trend
  • Tim Washington & Geoff Mewing - on electric vehicles and driverless cars
  • Al Gore's Climate Reality presentation
• Technology exhibition space
• Workshops and demonstrations including de-cluttering and energy saving workshops
• Sustainability experts and designers on hand
• Market stalls promoting and showcasing environmentally friendly homewares, gifts and products from across the Eastern suburbs and wider Sydney
• Kid-friendly activities - nature play, recycled arts and crafts, live bird shows.. and much more.

The expo is powered by renewable forms of energy including wind, solar and bio-diesel.

Green team volunteers are stationed at waste stations to assist in the correct disposal of waste and food scraps are collected and composted, and left-over food collected for donation.

Drinking water stations are provided throughout the event site and patrons are encouraged to bring their own drink bottles, mugs and cups. Plastic bottles, plastic bags or plastic straws are banned from the event to reduce the amount of single use plastic at the event.

More information: http://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/ecolivingexpo

About ICARE

Council’s internal values program ICARE stands for integrity, customer focus, accountability, respect and excellence.

It’s a set of values that underpins the expected behaviour and attitudes of all staff and is embedded in the organisation from recruitment to performance reviews and is a consideration in all our planning.

The ICARE look was recently reviewed following a comprehensive internal review and consultation process. This project involved many staff from multiple departments including Corporate Improvement, Communications and Trades.

Media enquiries:
Chelsea Hunter – 0419 694 983 or chelsea.hunter@randwick.nsw.gov.au
Joshua Hay – 0402 351 459 or joshua.hay@randwick.nsw.gov.au