• All entries will be entered into a database and retained for a period of 4 months
• Entry numbers will be allocated to all entries
• Online entries will be merged with mailed entries to create one database
• A second copy of the database will be created deleting the names of entrants ensuring anonymity during judging - entrants will then be identified by their "Entrant Number"
• Entries that are eliminated at each stage of the judging will be stored separately from all other entries
• Online survey responses will be entered into a database and retained for analysis
• Survey responses will be regionally encoded and will be completely anonymous
• Entrants who have requested the LivingThing Kit or Living Sustainably e-newsletter will be entered in a mailout database for follow-up contact
• The Competition PO Box will be cleared weekly during the competition period
• Online Entries will be captured weekly during the competition period

Judging will occur in three stages:

• 1st Stage Judging - Weekly elimination

  
  
  1. Mailed entries
     
     All mailed entries will be checked to verify eligibility based on meeting the initial criteria as follows:
     
     • It must include the entry card collected at a Bunnings store OR an advertisement from the Daily Telegraph newspaper
     • The entry must contain the contestants contact details
     • The sustainability statement is original work free of spelling, punctuation and typographical errors
     • The sustainability statement word count is 50 words or less
     • The age of the contestant is 16 years or over
     • The residence of the contestant is NSW
  2. On-line entries
     
     All online entries will be checked to verify eligibility based on meeting the initial criteria as follows:
     
     • The online entry form must be complete containing all the contestants details
     • The sustainability statement is original work free of spelling, punctuation and typographical errors
     • The sustainability statement word count is 50 words or less
     • The age of the contestant is 16 years or over
     • The residence of the contestant is NSW
      TOP ±

• 2nd Stage Judging - Elimination - Selection of Finalists

  
  
  1. 1st Review by Judges
     
     • Occurs Thursday 1st June 2006
     • This stage will select the best 36 entries
  2. Finalist Judging Process and Criteria
     
     Judging of the sustainability statement (50 words or less) is subjective based on what the judges believe to be:
     
     • Appropriateness to competition theme (40%)
     • Inspiration of statement (30%)
     • Clarity of expression (30%)
      TOP ±

• 3rd Stage Judging - Final Selection of Prize Winners

  
  
  1. Final Judging
     
     • Occurs Friday 2nd June at Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW (DECC) Offices
  2. Judging Panel
     
     The members of the judging panel for the Our environment - it's a living thing competition include representatives from:
     
     • The Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW
     • A sponsor representative
     • A representative from an external agency (who will act as tie-breaker if required)
  3. Final Judging Process and Criteria
     
     The 36 finalists will be given a score out of 10
     (1 = lower quality 10 = outstanding quality)
     
     The Judges will then select:
     
     • Best entry - scoring 10/10
       – Winner receives Prize Package 1
     • Next best entry - scoring 8/10
       – Winner receives Prize Package 2
     • Next best 3 entries - scoring 7/10
       – Winners receive Prize Packages 3, 4, and 5
     • Next best 7 entries - scoring 5/10
       – Winners receive Prize Packages 6 - 12
     In the event of a tied score in this phase of judging, the entries involved in the tie will be reviewed by an additional judge who will serve as a tiebreaker
     
      TOP ±

Notification of Winners:

• Winners will be notified by phone
  (ensure you provide a suitable contact number on your entry form)
• Winners will be announced on the competition page of the livingthing.net.au website on World Environment Day, Monday 5 June 2006

• Prize contributors will be notified by DECC of the names and contact details of the winners of their prize(s)
• DECC will issue prizes in their care to relevant winners

The winner of the 1st Prize Package will be required to be available for competition announcement publicity on World Environment Day, Monday 5 June 2006, and potential on-going post competition promotional opportunities as DECC arranges.