Banksia Environmental Foundation

The recipient is selected from the winners of the Banksia Category Awards.  It is awarded to the individual or organisation which, in the judges' opinion, has made the contribution most worthy of extra recognition and acknowledgement.

PLEASE NOTE:  There are no separate applications required for this award - your entry into the Category Awards, if successful to Winner status will automatically be considered for the Gold Award

The Origin Gold Banksia Award Winner aims to represent the most significant issues facing the environment industry and the organisations and projects that are focusing on those issues.

2011 Origin Gold Banksia Award Winner

Gippsland Water Factory - A New Way to Care for Water

Gippsland Water, VIC

'"Gippsland Water Factory turned conventional wastewater treatment on its head. The innovative wastewater treatment system addresses a serious environmental issue and incorporates water recycling to provide a sustainable solution for central Gippsland in Victoria. For outstanding innovation in resolving a significant intransigent regional environmental problem and turning it into a net environmental positive, with substantive engagement of stakeholders across all communities, Banksia Judges applaud the Gippsland Water Factory."

Gippsland Water Factory turned conventional wastewater treatment on its head. The innovative wastewater treatment system addresses a serious environmental issue and incorporates water recycling to provide a sustainable solution for central Gippsland in Victoria. Built with the primary aim of removing untreated odorous wastewater from more than 40km of open sewer, Gippsland Water Factory improves the freshwater environment by recycling domestic wastewater from 11 Gippsland towns for re-use, freeing up water in local rivers and reservoirs. The project set a new standard for delivery of wastewater treatment infrastructure in Australia and resulted in a reduced volume and massive step-change improvement to the quality of treated industrial wastewater discharged to the ocean. Gippsland Water Factory goes well beyond compliance and is a project the community can be proud of. It incorporates sustainable design features, a water education centre, and is world-first in the way it treats industrial pulp and paper wastewater.

Past Winners of the Gold Award

• 2010 - Yellow Crazy Ant Management Project - Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation, NT (in partnership with CSIRO, Rio-Tinto, Alcan)
• 2009 - Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses
• 2008 - WWF Australia Earth Hour Australia
• 2007 - Westpac: Unlocking Value
• 2006 - Australian Arrow Pty Ltd: Visualising Our Environmental Footprint
• 2005 - mecu goGreen® car loan
• 2004 -  Visy "we make it, we take it"
• 2003 -  Marine and Coastal Community Network