Millennium Awards in Waitakere City

Forest and Bird, Issue 296, 1 May 2000, Page 40

Millennium Awards in Waitakere City

"he contributions of several Forest and Bird members to Waitakere City have been recognised by Millennium Medals presented by the city council. The awards were made after the Council called for community nominations ‘to find 100 of the West’s true heroes’. ‘At the dawn of the new millennium this is the city’s way of honouring those who have made an outstanding contribution to the life and vitality of the West, the mayor, Bob Harvey, wrote to recipients. Waitakere is the western city of Auckland; environmental issues have been significant as the region lies at a growing edge of urbanisation. Not all medals were for environmental work — Forest and Bird names also appear in the lists for other categories which ranged through arts, business, community, educational, health, literary, Maori, politics, sport, wine and youth. Among them are: cae Pat "I me oe ee is

Pim van der Voort, for political and community board services in the Titirangi area, including driving the transformation of a wasteland into a public park. Gary Taylor, founder of the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society, and active in many conservation, planning and transport areas. Roy Ranby, who for many years battled and eventually succeeded in transforming a waste dump into parkland, stopping leachate flowing into the harbour, and who is still organising further enhancement and replanting. Colleen Pilcher, for many years’ work as president of the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society, and a very active battler for habitat protection, protecting forests, and adding to reserves. Kevin Lynch for community services, including participation in many environmental working groups, particularly those relating to the protection of the Manukau Harbour and the

Waitakere Ranges. Ken Catt, for outstanding services to the community over many years, particularly with the Green Print, achieving district plan amendments, and creation of a harbour edge wetland and wildlife reserve. Source: Waitakere Forest and Bird.