Nominations open for environmental awards

Rosemary and John Cotman's Weka Watchers in Kawakawa Bay were winners in the 2007 Sustainable Environment Awards.

Nominations are open for Auckland Regional Council (ARC) awards that recognise the outstanding people behind some of the region's great environmental projects.

The ARC's Sustainable Environment Awards are held every two years. Project leader Cathy Klouwens says the 2009 awards have seven categories, including three new ones in the area of recycling.

Nominations close on 4 November 2009.

You can make an online nomination for yourself or someone else, or phone 09 366 2000 (0800 80 60 40 if you're outside the Auckland free calling area).

General categories are:

• individual - sustainable environment leadership award
• sustainable schools - sustainable environment achievement award
• youth - environmental guardians of the future award
• sustainable communities - sustainable environment achievement award.

Special categories (Beyond Recycling waste minimisation award) are:

• sustainable business
• community
• schools.

Jan Sinclair, Deputy Chair of the Council's Environmental Management Committee, urges people to nominate themselves or deserving friends or family for an award.

"If you go by past winners, they are the last people that would ever expect or seek recognition, but they are the first that deserve it," says Councillor Sinclair.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Auckland on 25 February 2010.