Botany Bay Centre Supports Earth Hour

Media Release 27 March 2009

Botany Bay Centre Supports Earth Hour

This weekend, the lights will go out at Botany Town Centre - but all for a good cause. As part of its long-term sustainable retail plan, Botany Town Centre, which is managed by AMP Capital Shopping Centres, is again taking part in Earth Hour, the international effort to reduce global warming.

Botany Town Centre will join businesses and people around New Zealand and in 74 other countries and territories by turning off its lights for one hour at 8:30pm on Saturday 28 March.

The centre will turn off all non-essential lighting and equipment, including external signage and the lighting for the Kauri display. And Botany Town Centre will be spreading the initiative to visitors by handing out eco-bulbs provided by the Manukau City Council.

Earth Hour, an initiative of the conservation group WWF-Australia, began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses took part. In 2008, Earth Hour became a global movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights and landmarks such as San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and the Colosseum in Rome standing in darkness. This year, the movement has become a ‘global vote for Earth’, with the goal of more than one billion people participating.

Earth Hour asks everyone – whether international icons, major cities, businesses or members of the public – to contribute to the protection of the planet and support the event by turning off their lights and appliances, reducing energy consumption and showing how simple it is to make a difference.

Jennifer Manning, Senior Centre Manager, says Botany Town Centre is proud to be taking part in Earth Hour for a second year, in a positive step towards reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

“We believe we have an obligation to operate responsibly, and Botany Town Centre is the prime venue from which to assert a positive message about taking responsibility for our planet. We hope to set an example for our customers and retailers and inspire them to introduce some easy changes that will help create an environmentally sustainable future.”

The Earth Hour switch-off is one of a number of initiatives AMP Capital Shopping Centres is undertaking in its ongoing plan towards environmental sustainability; others include the use of energy efficient light bulbs in centres, and recycling initiatives which are saving thousands of dollars through the re-use of food scraps, bottles, cardboard and paper.

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