Sustainable management of our land and water is the backbone of Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s mission, which is why we have sponsored the Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards for the past 13 years.
These awards support and encourage the practices which will ensure we have healthy and sustainable resources on the land and water for both current and future generations.
We are facing some major challenges in our region to improve our waterways, particularly the Rotorua lakes and Tauranga Harbour, and the practical on-farm methods developed by the environmentally-conscious farmers who participate in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards are at the heart of this work.
We are impressed by our farmers’ willingness to look more closely at what they are doing on the land to protect their waterways, reducing nutrients, preventing erosion, managing pests and improving biodiversity. Most importantly they are willing to share their solutions with others.
Congratulations to John and Catherine Ford, Highlands Station, the first national winners of the 2015 Ballance Farm Environment Awards from the Bay of Plenty. They have made us very proud.
Douglas Leeder – Chairman, Bay of Plenty Regional Council