Environmental heroes rewarded with awards
Environmental heroes rewarded with awards
For immediate release: Thursday 23 September 2004
A Rotorua rat trapper, two Maori groups from the eastern Bay of Plenty, and a rural primary school have been rewarded by Environment Bay of Plenty for their “fantastic work” over the past year.
At a ceremony in Whakatane today, chairman John Cronin presented special awards to 18 of the region’s environmental heroes.
Environment Bay of Plenty’s Environmental Awards are an annual event that celebrates the work being done by community groups, educational organisations, individuals and businesses to improve and protect the environment in the Bay of Plenty. “They recognise the outstanding contributions made by people and groups to the region’s environment,” Mr Cronin says.
The regional council received a record 33 nomination for its Environmental Awards this year, including four by staff for a new category for resource consent holders.
Award winners for 2004 are:
Individual
Winner: Bob Scopes of Rotorua for excellence in innovation and dedication to rat and mice control. Bob is very involved in a long-running project to control pests at Lake Tarawera. He also designed and built a rat bait dispenser that is now being used in other parts of New Zealand.
Highly Commended: Ernest and Jean Alspach of Opotiki for significant work in restoration on their property. The Alspach’s have protected and restored 35 acres of broadleaf/podocarp forest on their farm near Opotiki. They maintain tracks for people to enjoy free of charge.
Highly Commended: John Brierley (Kawerau) for significant work in the restoration and development of the 39-ha Monika Lanham Reserve in Kawerau. John initiated and developed a wetland pond in the reserve and has contributed many voluntary hours to fieldwork, planning and facilitation.
Acknowledgement of Achievement: Braden
Gedson, a natural environmentalist at 11 years old, for
significant work in pest control in the Waiotahe Valley;
Leisha Skevington, a Tauranga Girls College student, for
significant work in environmental education, including
helping to set up a school recycling centre.
Community
Joint winner: Te Rangatahi o te Whenua Trust
(Opotiki) for excellence in various project and educational
work. The trust has initiated several environmental
projects, including a possum eradication programme where
over 10,000 possums were exterminated in nine months. They
have established a native plant nursery, initiated
restoration projects in Torere, and are researching ways to
protect mussels.
Joint winner: Ohinemataroa River
Management Committee, Taneatua, for excellence in
restoration, education and community involvement. This group
has removed rubbish, fenced and replanted land, established
a native nursery and provided grassland for community
activities.
Highly Commended: Tanners Point Pest Free
Peninsula Project for significant work in community
involvement, education and biodiversity; Coastlands Coast
Care for significant work in community involvement and
education in dune restoration; and Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust
for significant work in the protection, education and
preservation of kiwi.
Education
Winner: Taneatua School for excellence in various environmental initiatives around the school and community, including riverside planting, a school native bush area, a recycling station and worm farms.
Highly Commended: Waihi Beach Primary School for
significant work in the restoration of school grounds
through student and community involvement; and Selwyn
Primary School in Rotorua for significant work in student
involvement in various environmental projects developed
throughout the school.
Acknowledgement of Achievement:
Keep Rotorua Beautiful for significant work in various
environmental programmes around Rotorua.
Consent
Compliance
Acknowledgement of Achievement: Tauranga Sandblasting Ltd, A and V Barr Family Trust (Awakeri), M and M Harvesting (Motu); Claymark New Zealand Ltd (Katikati). All four businesses were awarded for outstanding actions that exceed the consent compliance requirements of Environment Bay of Plenty.
ENDS