Ipswich is a national contender

Keep Australia Beautiful National Sustainable Cities judge Dick Olesinki with Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale on his whirlwind tour of the nominated cities.

Claudia Baxter

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IPSWICH'S environmental credentials were put under the microscope yesterday by a man who could deliver the city a major national award.

Keep Australia Beautiful (KAB) National Sustainable Cities judge Dick Olesinski came to Ipswich yesterday for a whirlwind visit.

Last week, Ipswich was named Queensland's most sustainable city with an award judged by KAB.

As part of his judging tour, Mr Olesinski visited some of the environmental projects that earned the city that title.

He said that, as with the state award, criteria for the national prize included encouraging community pride, minimising and managing waste and litter, water conservation, encouraging sustainable development and preserving heritage and culture.

"Certainly the city of Ipswich has more than addressed all the elements of the national criteria," Mr Olesinski said.

Ipswich is competing with Kogarah in New South Wales, Burnie in Tasmania, Subiaco in WA, Charles Sturt in South Australia and the Sustainable Skills Training Hub in ACT.

"That's all about smart meters and whether to use wind power and solar power and things like that and I'm sure a lot of those issues are being addressed here in Ipswich," Mr Olesinski said.

"In a small package I've got to get the feel of how the council and the community fit together with business and industry to become a sustainable community."

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said the foundation of Ipswich's sustainability was education and community pride.

"Some baby boomers don't like change but we've been able to get change," he said.

"You've got to sell a vision and you've got to get people involved in what you're trying to achieve.

"I think that's what we've done in Ipswich.

"Everyone's very proud to say they're from Ipswich.

"We're proud of what we've achieved and the community's coming with us."