Lake Mac schools share top prize in Environment Awards

Published on 03 November 2023

Two Lake Mac primary schools have shared top honours at this year’s Lake Mac School Environment Awards after judges couldn’t split their sustainability efforts.

Dudley Public School and St Mary’s Primary Warners Bay were named overall winners from more than 20 schools that entered the annual competition across the city.

Lake Macquarie City Council Sustainability Engagement Coordinator Chris Harle said it was the first time in the competition’s history that two schools had shared the prize.

Dudley won for its innovative renewable energy co-contribution program, with a 14kW solar energy system soon to be installed, and its student-led ‘Garbage Guardians’ initiative.

“The Garbage Guardians are volunteer students who help ensure students correctly separate waste into the correct bin,” Ms Harle said.

“Paper, cardboard, hard and soft plastics, food waste and even whiteboard markers are all collected for recycling.”

St Mary’s won for its water efficiency innovations, as well as its achievements reducing waste and energy use.

“For several years, this school has shown amazing commitment to reducing waste,” Ms Harle said.

“It’s now a completely bin-less school, which is absolutely outstanding.”

This year’s awards were sponsored by Hunter Resource Recovery, Delta Electricity, Centennial Coal, Sanitarium and Council.

Dudley Public School Principal Chad Tsakissiris said environmentally sustainable practices were highly valued, not just by students and staff, but their families and the wider local community.

“Our school has committed to many projects that align with environmental sustainability, and we continue to educate the school community on the importance of caring for our local surroundings, for the benefit and legacy of a beautiful future in Dudley,” he said.

Other winners included Cooranbong Public School (Innovation Award), Garden Suburb Public School (Ongoing Commitment Award), Teralba Public School (Waste Award), Biraban Public School (Energy Award), Barnsley Public School (Natural Environment Award) and Charlestown South Public School (Encouragement Award).

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser, who presented the Encouragement Award to Charlestown South Public School on Thursday, congratulated all the winners and nominees.

“Every little step these schools and students take adds up to deliver huge benefits to the environment and our community,” she said.

“They motivate and educate kids to be more environmentally friendly, and those messages go home to their parents and families and flow on for the benefit of us all.”