CPP Ambassador Award (Individual – elected members) Shortlisted Finalists

Cr Pam Townshend, Shire President, Augusta Margaret River Shire

Shire President Pam Townshend is the Shire’s champion for sustainability. Through her leadership, the Shire became a member of the Cities Power Partnership in October 2018. Pam was one of fifteen mayors from the Cities Power Partnership that demanded Federal support for local work on climate change, a Federal commitment to a national 100% renewable energy target and rapid phase out of fossil fuel subsidies.

Pam is one of the 20 “Hub” members of Transition Margaret River, consistently contributing to ideas, discussions and projects that progress the Transition aim of ‘Building resilience, sustainability and community in the Margaret River region’. Pam represents the Council on Giant Light Steps, an initiative that is bringing key industry groups, government and community together to form an environmental stewardship alliance.

Pam completed training through the Al Gore Climate Reality Leadership Corps, held in Brisbane in June 2019. Pam is also a founding member of the local Climate Action Group who recently held a Climate Action Summit in May 2019 in conjunction with Surfing Western Australia and the World Surf League.

Pam has also supported the Shire’s Local Energy Action Plan which seeks to reduce both corporate and community emissions.

Clr Tony Wellington, Mayor, Noosa Council

Mayor Wellington is passionate about his home of Noosa and the natural environment which has long been protected by previous and current Council and community activists. Commencing mayoral duties in March 2016, tackling climate change has been at the forefront of Tony’s priorities. Tony recognised early on that Council had to take a leadership position for the Noosa community by reducing Council’s own emissions.

In May 2016, Noosa Council implemented its Emission Reduction Policy and in October 2016 Council endorsed the Zero Emissions Noosa (aptly named “ZEN”) Strategy that committed Council to achieving the ambitious goal of net zero emissions by 2026. Tony has advocated for, and ensured the required resources are in place to achieve this goal. Tony has been the driving force to achieve this target.

He has participated in numerous media events to promote Council’s targets and progress. Tony recognised it was a “no brainer” for Noosa to join the Cities Power Partnership as a founding member and regularly engages with other mayors tackling climate change and adaptation. He has participated in numerous Cities Power Partnership events and actively promotes Councillors and staff attendance at the program’s webinars.