Lake Rotokauri announced as finalist at ecological awards

Waikato District Council’s Lake Rotokauri project has again gained recognition for a job well done.

The project was announced as a finalist in the 2016 Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia Awards on 22 November.

The awards recognise excellence in ecological restoration practice for projects from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. The awards were presented at the ERA2016 conference in Hamilton.

Council’s project was announced as a finalist in the New Zealand projects category, greater than 50ha. The project is improving water quality, ecological values and biodiversity in the Rotokauri Reserve through managing sedimentation and undertaking pest animal and plant control.

“Waikato District Council’s ecological restoration project at Rotokauri is up there with the best. To be shortlisted alongside large scale projects on islands in NZ and bush restoration in Australia is a real accolade,” General Manager Service Delivery, Tim Harty says.

A list of 20 outstanding restoration projects were shortlisted as finalists. These included a range of projects conducted in agricultural lands, conservation reserves, wetlands and riparian and marine areas. 

The awards acknowledge projects that have made a significant, enduring or internationally recognised contribution to the science and/or practice of ecological restoration through achieving high standards of practice at a site or the development of innovative new approaches, methods and/or strategies for involving the public in restoration efforts.

Winners in the category included Motuora Island and Motutapu Island in New Zealand and Big Scrub Landcare in NSW Australia.