Werribee riverkeeper John Forrester hopes his win at the Keep Australia Beautiful sustainable cities awards will help draw attention to the environmental issues impacting on Wyndham.
The Carranballac College teacher and Wyndham Litter Watch president received the Dame Phyllis Frost award last month in recognition of his community involvement and efforts to protect the environment.
The award is named after the late Dame Phyllis, an active philanthropist with a passion for the environment who helped set up the Keep Australia Beautiful Council in Victoria in the 1960s.
Mr Forrester was bestowed the title of riverkeeper by the New York-based environmental group Waterkeeper Alliance.
He said the award highlighted the level of concern around Wyndham about environmental issues. He said government inaction to address low flows on the Werribee River, loss of biodiversity and an increase of litter in the municipality were all issues the community wanted rectified.
“The community is expressing frustration at the loss of birdlife and of fish in our oceans,” Mr Forrester said. “We are losing platypuses in our river; they are now endangered. Litter is now way beyond the capabilities of volunteers to deal with.”
Mr Forrester believes governments are too preoccupied with other issues to pay appropriate attention to the environment, despite it helping to boost tourism and the economy. He said it was concerning that people might miss out on the chance to experience the clean beaches, migratory birds and beautiful scenery that he had had access to growing up.
