Community awards a great opportunity to celebrate achievement
Sarah Bynevelt says entering the Environment Southland Community Awards is a terrific opportunity to reflect on achievements and hear about other inspiring environmental work happening in the region.
Sarah, Sanford Bluff site manager, was the winner of the Individual Environmental Action or Leadership Award sponsored by ANZ at the 2023 awards.
“I found it a really great process and for me as a manager, as we don’t often stop and reflect on all the things we do that people contribute to,” she says.
Every year, many community groups, schools, businesses and farmers are taking action to make a significant difference to the Southland environment.
Environment Southland recognises and celebrates those unsung heroes in the community who are taking a leading role in the environmental space through the awards.
Sarah has led the transformation of Sanford’s Bluff processing facility into a high-performing, proud, sustainability powerhouse.
She has focused on reducing waste and plastic use through clever recycling that benefits the community, using every part of every fish so nothing goes to waste and inspiring her team and community to make sustainability a priority.
She also led the commissioning and installation of a new processing line to make work easier for her employees among other initiatives.
“It was a real treat and a pleasure to have the councillors who judge the awards come and visit, to see where we work, and their genuine interest in what we do.”
She says it was fantastic seeing other award nominees being recognised for doing what they’re passionate about – and the awards ceremony was an enjoyable way to see and celebrate all the positive work going on.
“The awards night was excellent. It was cool to see so many different initiatives being celebrated.”
Sarah says she’s received a lot of positive feedback from the aquaculture industry from the awards, with people reaching out to Sanford to chat about some of the initiatives the team are undertaking.
Fellow 2023 finalists and past award winners Omaui Landcare Charitable Trust are bringing birdsong back to the picturesque coastal location.
Chairman John Collins says the awards are a wonderful opportunity for groups doing environmental work to get their names out there.
“It’s about supporting the cause too and it’s good for the morale of volunteers,” he says.
The Trust was formed in 2013 by a group of Omaui residents who were concerned with the declining health of the native bush and wildlife in the area.
They started trapping possums and 10 years on are holding the fort against a range of predator species. It's important for environmental efforts to be publicised which helps with education and funding efforts as well, John says.
“The rewards are there for everyone to see and hear with flocks of kererū, tūī and even the occasional kākāriki visiting.”
Nominations for the 2024 Environment Southland Community Awards will open on Monday, 3 June. Seven different award categories cater for a range of environmental projects and actions being undertaken by individuals, community groups, businesses, farmers and students.
The winning entries will receive cash prizes courtesy of our valued sponsors. All nominees will be invited to attend the awards dinner to be held on Thursday, 17 October, at the Ascot Park Hotel, Invercargill, where the winners will be announced.
