Success for Porirua at LivCom Awards

PRESS RELEASE

DATE: 8th November 2010

EMBARGO: 00:01 9th November 2010

Chicago, USA

Success for Porirua at LivCom Awards

Cutting edge environmental projects from Canada, South Africa and New Zealand emerge winners at UN-backed global awards event

Four environmental and community initiatives from countries as diverse as Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and the Ukraine were saluted yesterday as (Monday, 8th November 2010) world beating.

The winning schemes were chosen at the annual finals of the International Awards for Liveable Communities (LivCom) held in Chicago, USA (4-8 November).

The UN-endorsed LivCom awards annually bring together some of the world's leading innovators in the field. This year's finalists included representatives from some of the smallest communities on the planet (Emly, Republic of Ireland Popn 900) to some of the very largest (Medellin, Colombia, Popn 3.8million).

The finalists are divided into five categories according to their average daytime population. In addition there are winners in categories covering specific projects as well as the award of a £10,000 bursary for the most inspiring and innovative project.

The award winning natural project from Johannesburg, South Africa had highlighted efforts to green the city to contribute to global climate protection.

Project judge Gus Stahlmann (USA) said the award winning project had impressed the judges because of its impact on daily lives. The Greening the City Legacy Project seeks to balance the distribution of the urban forest throughout the entire city, bringing a green environment to the entire population of Johannesburg.

The winner of the built project category was the scheme to turn an industrial wasteland in the city of Vancouver, the Southeast False Creek into a vibrant, model sustainable community. The test of its success came with the housing of 2800 athletes competing at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Gus Stahlmann described it as: An exciting LEEDs standard redevelopment project fast tracked to create a world-class environment for Olympic athletes, with future long-term opportunities for living, shopping, and working.

Judges turned to New Zealand to find the finest example of a world leading socio economic project awarding first place to a town planning scheme in the community of Porirua in North Island.

The programme won praise for the way in which it had engaged and empowered its citizens.

This program engages and empowers residents in each sector of the city to develop and implement plans in their own way to reflect the distinct identity of each village. It is a groundbreaking partnership between the city council and the communities it serves.

Porirura also led the way in the field of community sustainability, being described by judge Yoritaka Tashiro, judge of Japan as a truly inclusive community organisation is one that gives its citizens a sense that they belong in that place, a place where they are comfortable that they have a voice that can easily be heard.

This community, which has a rich mix of cultures and a range of socio-economic circumstances, have forged powerful partnerships with businesses and special interest groups. They have been rightly recognised by the Prime Minister of their country as an outstanding community.

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