Tasman Environment Awards recognise Bay projects
Golden Bay's reputation for environmental awareness and activism was further enhanced at the recent Tasman Environment Awards.
Six individuals and groups from Golden Bay won awards. Four of the seven categories were won by Bay people, and two further commendations came our way as well.
In the community and neighbourhood group section, the Golden Bay Streamcare group won the first prize of $1000 for their work in raising plants and establishing them in fenced areas on dairy farms in the Aorere and Motupipi catchments. Spokesperson Jo-Anne Vaughan said that the money would be used in a way that recognised the importance of the award and furthered the group's work.
"It's just such a neat project," she said. "It's a great way for the community to get involved with each other. We're building relationships with people like the Aorere sustainable farming group and Fonterra. TDC provides the science and the strong support, which is great too. The big nursery at the back of Collingwood Area School has pulled the kids into the group's work. It's not slowing down either-we're getting more clients all the time as farmers see the value of riparian planting."
Albie Burgers won the individual and family award for his carpooling website. Though typically self-effacing about his nomination and $1000 prize, Albie is pleased that the website is being used so enthusiastically.
"It was Derry Kingston's ride-sharing idea that inspired this web-based carpool, and Galen King's New Zealand-wide carpool site (www.carpoolnz.org) gave me some ideas too. They say that good ideas deserve to get invented more than once, don't they?"
Carol Dawber and Cheryl Win's book, Between the Ports - Collingwood to Waitapu, won the first prize of $500 in the heritage/cultural category. The book was commissioned by the Bainham Reunion Committee.
The Aorere Heritage Centre also received a commendation in the heritage/cultural category. Spokesperson Sara Chapman said that the heritage/cultural category is a little different from most of the others because it didn't seem to require a particularly environmental focus in the normal sense.
"The centre was recognised for its very existence," she said. "By coming into being we have enhanced the cultural environment. The award was for our focus on telling important local stories in an accessible way."
Jerry Reuhl's efforts to reduce the estuarine contamination and thus improve bird and fish habitats won him the first prize of $1000 in the rural category. Using professional advice and expertise, and accessing assistance from TDC, Jerry has planted about 20,000 trees and grasses and created riparian strips on his property near Puponga. Fencing the streams reduces contamination and leads to the restoration of biodiversity.
Waitapu Fisheries were commended in the commercial category for designing a new way of tying mussel floats together that eliminates little scraps of rope being washed up on beaches.
Neil Wilson
