The community-driven rehabilitation work done at PAC Park in East Street has been recognised with a Blue Star Sustainability Award. The project to transform a degrade stormwater channel into an ecologically complex wetland treatment system took out the Habitat & Wildlife Guardianship category at the Keep NSW Beautiful Blue Star Sustainability (Regional) Awards held in Orange last Saturday.
Parkes Shire Council Mayor, Cr Ken Keith OAM said it was a tremendous achievement for the entire community, as it celebrated the hard work of Council staff, local organisations and volunteers. “This award recognises the efforts of community members, schools and organisations, such as Central West Lachlan Landcare, Northparkes Mines and Currajong Disability Services, who assisted Council in the restoration and rejuvenation of PAC Park.”
“It is an award for our community,” said Marg Applebee, Landcare Support Officer who worked very closely with Council on the project. “Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL) would like to congratulate Parkes Shire Council on winning the award.” The Mayor said the project saw the potential of PAC Park realised, improving biodiversity and native habitat within the area and improving the quality of water flowing through the waterway into the downstream environment.
The Mayor and Marg both thanked the community for their commitment and contribution. “The work at PAC Park has brought together the community to beautify and restore an important water course and take ownership of an area that had been neglected and now has a new lease on life,” said Marg. “Public amenity at the site has been significantly improved, transforming it into a great outdoor space for the community to now enjoy,” the Mayor said.
The Blue Star Sustainability Awards are awarded to the most sustainable projects and programs in NSW, based on environmental, social and economic factors, and also recognise civic pride, community spirit and future planning.