The winners of the annual Greenest Municipality Competition were announced at an awards ceremony, hosted by the Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, MEC Anton Bredell.
The Overberg District Municipality was awarded second place for the District Municipalities category and received a silver certificate and price money of R70 000. Eden District Municipality came in first with Cape Winelands District Municipality in third place.
Furthermore the Overberg District Municipality won the innovation prize for: Adoption of a Air Quality Management By-Law and assistance to Local Municipalities in their jurisdiction to have Air Quality Management Plans drafted and adopted.
The aim of the GMC is to promote environmental sustainability at Local Government level. Municipalities had to report on the following six criteria that determine overall performance:
· Waste Management;
· Climate Change Response;
· Biodiversity Management, Coastal Management and Urban Beautification;
· Water Management and Conservation;
· Air Quality Management; and
· Leadership, Institutional Arrangement & Public Participation.
