Previous Australian Riverprize Winners

Winner: Torbay Catchments Group | Torbay Catchment, Australia

The Torbay Catchment is a valuable fishing, farming, tourism and conservation resource for the people of the south coast of Western Australia. Its vision was ‘an environmentally clean, balanced ecology supporting a prosperous community in which people respect each other’s use of the catchment and waterways’. Watch video here 

Finalists:

Cape to Cape Catchments Group | Margaret River, Australia
Office of the Lake Macquarie and Catchment Coordinator | Lake Macquarie, Australia
Wowan Dululu Landcare Group | Dee River, Australia

Winner: Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee | Bulimba Creek Catchment, Australia

Bulimba Creek Catchment Association had an outstanding record of achievement in land revegetation and water quality improvement for its network of creeks and bushland.  The volunteer group coordinated Waterwatch, supported 23 local Bushcare groups, provided training programs to volunteers, and involved students and community groups in practical conservation projects. Watch video here

Finalists:

Environs Kimberley | Fitzroy River, Australia
Paroo River Association | Paroo River, Australia
Tweed Shire Council | Tweed River Catchment, Australia

Winner:  Great Lakes Council | Wallis Lake, Australia

Wallis Lake suffered a serious Hepatitis A contamination event during late 1996/1997. This seriously threatened the AU$125 million per year tourism industry, the AU$10 million per year oyster farming industries as well as the second most productive estuarine fishery in New South Wales. This event illustrated the real value of a healthy lake and watershed to the regional community and economy, and provided the motivation to establish an outcome-driven, integrated watershed management and restoration program for the Wallis Lake system. Watch video here

Finalists:

City of Ballarat | Yarrowee River, Australia
Douglas Shire River Improvement Trust | Mossman River, Australia

Winner:  Hunter Catchment Management Trust | Hunter River, Australia

More than 100 years of sustained urban and industrial development, led by the coal mining and power generation industries, left the Hunter River in a polluted state, prompting the community to take action. Through the Hunter Catchment Management Trust, and subsequently the Hunter/Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority, the river community has worked with government, industry and landholders to improve the health of the Hunter River and its catchment. Watch video here

Finalists:

Cardwell Shire River Improvement Trust | Tully-Murray Rivers, Australia
Great Lakes Council | Wallis Lake, Australia
Tweed Shire Council | Tweed River Catchment, Australia

Winner:  Merri Creek Management Committee | Merri Creek, Australia

For many years, Merri Creek was the backyard for industries, over-run by weeds, and the storm water that drained into it dumped rubbish and deposited contaminants. In the 1970s, local residents recognised its values and began to work for its rehabilitation. Watch video here

Finalists:

Derwent Estuary Program | Derwent River, Australia
Hunter Catchment Management Trust | Hunter River, Australia
Murray Wetlands Working Group | Murray Wetlands, Australia

Winner:  Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority | Goulburn Broken Catchment, Australia

In 1997 the rivers in the Goulburn Broken catchment experienced declines in water quality, native vegetation and biodiversity. Working in partnership with landholders, landcare groups, the wider community, research organisations, the Victorian and Australian Governments and their agencies, the GBCMA has achieved significant improvements in water quality and river health. Watch video here

Finalists:

Blackwood Basin Group | Blackwood River, Australia
Merri Creek Management Committee | Merri River, Australia
Tweed Shire Council | Tweed River Catchment, Australia

Michael has over 30 years’ experience across the resources & industrial industries in Australia, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Prior to being appointed to the joint role of Executive Chair and CEO of Thiess, Michael was the CEO of ASX listed CIMIC Group, responsible for leading Sedgman, UGL, CPB Contractors, Leighton Asia and Thiess. He joined Thiess in 1998, starting as a Project Manager, and has held leadership and operational roles in the mining, construction and services sector, giving him expertise across operations, technical, commercial and strategy.

Michael is a highly regarded and innovative leader focused on delivering value to clients and inspiring operational excellence by building strong, safe and performance-driven teams. He serves as a Director of the Minerals Council of Australia and the Sustainable Minerals Institute.

He holds a Bachelor of Engineering Civil from the University of Sydney and a Master of Engineering Science from the University of New South Wales.