Local environmental advocate Tracy Sorensen has been named Bathurst's nominee for NSW Environmental Citizen of Year for her central role in fostering grassroots action on climate change and conservationism.
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Ms Sorensen, who received the Jo Ross Memorial Award for her environmental work earlier this year, has been nominated for her ongoing work through Bathurst Community Climate Action Network [BCCAN] and Greening Bathurst.
But like her Jo Ross Award acknowledgement in January, Ms Sorensen also views the NSW Environmental Citizen of the Year nomination as a "group achievement."
"These honours are very much about the groups, and the environmental work I've been acknowledged for has never been about the work of one person," she said.
"It's got my name on it, sure, but it belongs to the diligent efforts of groups such as BCCAN and Greening Bathurst to advocate for a more sustainable future."
Ms Sorensen said local environmental groups have played a prominent role over the last few years advocating for a shift from coal and gas to renewable energy sources and the preservation of natural landscapes.
"We're proud of the role we've played to help preserve McPhillamy Park from the development of a go-kart track, as well as helping prevent Regis Resources from using Macquarie River water for a proposed gold mine near Blayney," she said.
"We are determined to keep natural landscapes green and open and push for an end to coal mining, and we, as a society, need to pull ourselves out of the fossil fuel economy for the good of the planet."
Ms Sorensen said there's massive potential for the Bathurst community to take the lead in terms of working towards a sustainable future.
"One of the best things we can do as Bathurst citizens is keep the pressure on council to plant more trees in the CBD to ensure manageable temperatures for future generations," she said.
"As the temperature rises, it's going to be harder to walk down the streets in summer, and trees take decades to grow into effective resources, so it's really important to consider what the community will look like in 50 years time, because today's actions may play a part."
The NSW Environmental Citizen of the Year will be announced on Saturday, with the winner to receive $3000 to put towards their community initiative.
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Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
