Individual Award
Sponsored by Landcorp Farming Ltd
Winner - Chris and Brian Rance
Local heroes
When the environment judges were making their way round to visit the 32 nominees who entered this year’s awards, they were amazed at how often the names Chris and Brian Rance came up in conversation. This unassuming couple are the driving force behind the Southland Community Nursery, they are stalwarts of the Otatara Landcare Group and the Natural History Field Club and they have also developed and covenanted a wetland and area of bush on their property at Otatara. They are a force for good throughout the environmental movement in Southland and their influence can be seen in conservation and restoration projects right across the region.
Highly commended – Tony and Raewyn van Gool.
Good riparian management
The phrases dairy farming and Waituna catchment have been heard a lot in the last few months, and often with negative connotations. But Waituna farm owners Tony and Raewyn van Gool are committed to improving their property, even though they live in the North Island, and have undertaken extensive riparian planting and fencing to keep stock well away from waterways. They’ve placed QE2 covenants over an extensive natural area on their farm and protected gullies with natural tussock cover and flax. Tony and Raewyn have also created more natural ponding areas to polish the water before it enters Jordan Creek, which is a tributary of the Waituna Creek. The judges said that if every farmer in the catchment took the same approach, the Waituna Lagoon would be in much better shape.
Environment Southland is the brand name of Southland Regional Council.