Biodiesel to new qualifications update for Lakes

Biodiesel to new qualifications update for Queenstown Lakes businesses

Businesses interested in sustainable practice and the value it can add to brands and bottom lines as well as qualifications can hear more by attending this week’s Queenstown Lakes Sustainable Business Programme update.

The programme is run by the Otago Polytechnic Centre for Sustainable Practice and has more than 40 local business participants completing a range of actions from implementing biodiesel and energy efficiency to integrated planning.

The update takes place this Wednesday (11 August) at the Queenstown Lakes District Council Chambers and is open to existing and new members as well as any interested parties.

The update has two major agenda items: New information about how people can earn qualifications for their efforts in building sustainable practice in the workplace while they are at work, and an update presentation on the use of biodiesel in Queenstown.

Centre for Sustainable Practice director Steve Henry says the 41 current and past participants in the Queenstown Lakes Sustainable Business Programme can have their action plans recognized towards a Certificate in Sustainable Practice.

“This is exciting news for businesses that are putting effort into developing and actioning their plans. The individuals involved can now be academically recognized for that work and be confident that their work is of a qualification standard.

“We believe there is much to be gained by incentivizing individuals and businesses to build capability through completing projects that are relevant and valuable to their situation or business. It then makes sense to ensure this work is recognized as a qualification that can be added to a CV and applied to further projects,” says Mr Henry. “We have worked to ensure the projects developed by the programme participants are up to a standard that can earn one of the four papers required to complete a Level 5 Certificate in Sustainable Practice and would encourage people to pick up the other three papers as and when they are able, through Otago Polytechnic’s flexible learning programmes.”

The update will also review the successful use of biodiesel in Queenstown this winter. The ground-breaking community initiative set up in March this year provided New Zealand’s first community biodiesel refueling facility. 15 Queenstown businesses have signed up for the 12-month pilot programme now running a total of 48 vehicles on 20% biodiesel mixed with standard diesel (B20).

They include Kiwi Discovery and Queenstown Rafting, (25 buses), Nomad Safaris Ziptrek Ecotours, Dart River Jet Safaris, and Shotover Jet, and Appellation Wine Tours.

Mr Henry says there have been no significant vehicle issues reported during that time.

Kiwi Discovery’s Tim Barke says his company was one of the first to sign up to the Sustainable Business Programme.

“Initially we were concerned about how the biodiesel could handle winter temperatures so we started with just two vehicles. We now run 25 vehicles with no significant changes in performance, fuel usage or maintenance. Biodiesel has been severely tested on some extremely cold, sub zero days without any issue,” said Mr Barke.

The biodiesel refuelling facility was set up with full endorsement and funding from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority as well as support from Queenstown Lakes District Council which supplied land and seed funding.

The Queenstown Sustainable Business update takes place from 3-4.30pm in the Chamber Rooms at Queenstown Lakes District Council on August 11th. Wanaka businesses are welcome to join via video link from QLDC Wanaka office.

ENDS