Ku-ring-gai wins two excellence awards

Published on 06 December 2023

Council’s Net Zero Ku-ring-gai Champions program and Simtable projects were winners at the Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Excellence in the Environment Awards.

The annual awards aim to recognise outstanding achievements by NSW local government organisations in managing and protecting the environment.

Council’s Net Zero Ku-ring-gai Champions Program was the winner of the overall Communication, Education and Empowerment category which recognises ‘outstanding initiatives that have informed the community and increased people's capacity to be active participants in moving society towards sustainability’.

Council’s Net Zero Ku-ring-gai initiative supports residents, schools and businesses to reduce emissions and create healthy liveable communities. Net Zero Champions are local residents volunteering to spread the net zero message to the local community.

Net Zero Champions host events, talks and webinars and share their own journeys to help residents achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2040.

A second award went to Council’s Simtable project – an innovative 3D model that uses sophisticated computer technology to simulate extreme weather and the impact it can have on homes in Ku-ring-gai.

The project won its division in the Climate Change Adaption category, dedicated to outstanding initiatives undertaken to address climate change risks and vulnerabilities.

The Simtable is part of Councils Climate Wise Communities program and simulates the impact of bushfire, storm and flooding events on a specific area. Residents can recreate the topography of their suburb, overlaying it with aerial photos creating the 3D effect, then input weather, fuel and vegetation data to see the potential impact of extreme weather scenarios on their homes and neighbourhood.

By seeing the Simtable, residents are made more aware of the need for an emergency plan including how to best prepare their homes for bushfires and the importance of evacuating early.

Mayor Sam Ngai said the awards showed the level of dedication Council was placing on environmental issues.

“Both the Net Zero Ku-ring-gai Champions program and the Simtable project are great examples of the types of hands-on, innovative work Council is doing collaboratively with our residents to ensure Ku-ring-gai has a bright, safe, and sustainable future. I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in both projects.”

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Media enquiries: Sally Williams, Ku-ring-gai Council 9424 0000.