by Komoneed | Mar 7, 2025
Yarra Valley Water has been named as one of four finalists shortlisted for the Public Water Agency of the Year title at the Global Water Awards 2025.
Presented annually at the Global Water Summit, the prestigious awards celebrate outstanding achievements in the international water industry, recognising innovation and operational excellence.
Yarra Valley Water Managing Director Pat McCafferty said it was an honour to be internationally recognised for driving the industry forward and helping to shape a sustainable water future.
“Global Water Intelligence’s panel of independent experts reviewed a record number of nominations this year. Being shortlisted is an incredible achievement when you’re up against the world’s leading water organisations,” McCafferty said.
“It’s well-deserved recognition of the work we do every day to provide great drinking water and essential sewerage services to two million Victorians as well as championing industry innovation to create a positive difference for communities and the environment.”
The Global Water Intelligence panel praised Yarra Valley Water’s customer-first approach and projects that create community value. In shortlisting the water corporation, it said, “By putting its customers and community first, Yarra Valley Water has obtained the social licence to transcend its traditional role, and aims to go beyond simple compliance to build a more resilient utility and community.”
McCafferty said Yarra Valley Water was one of the first water utilities to commit to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and continues to deliver projects that drive positive change in the water sector.
These initiatives include:
implementing a rapid decarbonisation program to achieve net zero scope 1 & 2 emissions from 1 July 2025, for the 2025–26 financial year
enabling Traditional Owners to care for Country on a self-determined basis
reimagining treatment plant buffer land to support sustainable community farming and restore habitat for some of Australia’s most critically endangered creatures
launching a recycled water offset project
investing in a pilot to explore sustainable production of hydrogen and exploring how the oxygen by-product can improve sewage treatment processes
creating programs that have since become national organisations, including Thriving Communities Australia, a cross-sector collaboration to support vulnerable customers, and Choose Tap, a coalition encouraging consumers to ditch plastic and switch to tap water
promoting gender diversity with women in the executive team rising from 14% to 60% and women in leadership reaching 50% over the past decade.
“This amazing achievement, which coincides with our 30th anniversary year, celebrates our team’s hard work and our partners’ support delivering for our customers and communities,” McCafferty said. “Our approach demonstrates how water agencies can build on a foundation of operational excellence in core service delivery and include innovation, sustainability, equity and community resilience to make a positive difference.”
Other finalists for the Public Water Agency of the Year Award are US-based JXN Water, Shenzhen Water and Environment Group in China and France’s SIAAP.
Winners will be announced at the Global Water Summit in May 2025.
by Kate Mothes | Mar 7, 2025
Elevated walkways and lookouts connect visitors to the surrounding Ouachita Forest.
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Visitors Commune with the Forest Canopy in a Four-Story Treehouse in Arkansas appeared first on Colossal.
by Komoneed | Mar 5, 2025
Retro-styled electric van offers 200 miles of range from 59kWh battery
by Komoneed | Mar 5, 2025
Our editors curate highly rated brands that are first assessed by our rigorous ratings system. Buying through our links may earn us a commission—supporting the work we do. Learn more. Happy International Women’s Day! To celebrate, we’ve rounded up some dynamic and responsible women-owned brands rated “Good” or “Great” on our directory. Feminism and sustainable […]
The post Meet 29 Women-Owned Brands Making Waves in Ethical Fashion appeared first on Good On You.
by Komoneed | Mar 5, 2025
ACCIONA has partnered with Australian professional surfer Josh Kerr and his brand Draft Surf, to create surfboards made from a retired wind turbine blade.
The initial range, crafted from a decommissioned blade from ACCIONA’s Waubra wind farm in Victoria, included 10 prototype surfboards as part of the company’s Turbine Made initiative.
The surfboards, hand-crafted on the Gold Coast, feature repurposed turbine blade strips built into the deck for strength and flex control. The fins of the board, made from recycled fibreglass, are said to provide stability, drive and speed, and the outer shell is further strengthened by incorporating recycled turbine blade particulate into the fibreglassing process.
Kerr said, “When ACCIONA approached us about being part of the solution and working together to create these surfboards, we jumped at the opportunity. At its core, our brand is about enabling the best surfing experience with quality products, in a sustainable way — which aligns with ACCIONA’s vision for Turbine Made.”
Draft Surf founder Josh Kerr with an ACCIONA Turbine Made surfboard prototype.
Launched in February 2025, Turbine Made is an initiative dedicated to exploring ways to transform decommissioned wind turbine blades into new materials and products. It represents the next step in ACCIONA’s efforts to advance circular economy in the renewable energy sector in Australia.
ACCIONA Energia’s global sustainability director Mariola Domenech said, “We know that in the next five to 10 years, countries like Australia will have a large volume of decommissioned wind turbine blades, so we’re acting now to explore new ways to recycle and reuse the material they are built from.
“The creation of a surfboard prototype, developed locally, is an example of how we’re reimagining the materials from decommissioned turbine blades and pushing the envelope of innovation when it comes to the circular economy.”
The Turbine Made initiative builds on ACCIONA’s previous work to repurpose decommissioned wind turbine blades. This includes a collaboration with European fashion brand El Ganso, to create sneakers featuring recycled blade material in their soles and integrating recycled blade materials into the torsion beams of solar trackers at a solar plant in Extremadura, Spain.
The company is also advancing in end-of-life turbine recycling through the development of a blade recycling plant in Navarra, Spain, which is set to become operational in 2026, creating 100 jobs and a processing capacity of 6000 tonnes of material per year.
“Sustainability isn’t just about reducing waste, it’s about product stewardship, ensuring that what we build today doesn’t become tomorrow’s environmental challenge,” Domenech said.
“By working with Australian manufacturers, designers and innovators, we can encourage the creation of practical, high-performance applications that benefit both industry and the environment.”
Top image caption: Professional surfer Josh Kerr holding an ACCIONA Turbine Made x Draft Surf surfboard prototype. Images: Supplied.
