Southland's environmental champions were celebrated at the Southland Community Environment Awards recently.
With a total of 32 nominees, nine winners were announced in different categories, all representing environmental action being undertaken throughout the region.
Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell said the awards were a chance to acknowledge local people ''doing fantastic'' work out there towards ensuring a better Southland for all of us''.
''The difference our nominees make can't be underestimated. Our natural resources - water, land, air and coast - underpin Southland's economy and our lifestyle.
''This is the essence of what makes Southland such a great place to live and work and play, now and in the future.''
The council was in the process of entering the next phase of implementing the National Policy Statement for Freshwater and as part of this, limit setting was something that needed to happen.
''Rules and limits will only take us so far in improving water quality and ensuring a thriving Southland. It will be a whole community effort,'' Mr Horrell said.
Moving forward with the plan, there was going to be much more work happening with the community and council listening to what people were saying, he said.
''We can see by our nominees . . . that so much work is already under way to help with this. It is timely to acknowledge the vision and leadership of some of the people, whose contributions are making a difference to the ongoing success of our region.
''It's clear we can't achieve our goals without people taking positive action on the ground, as shown by [our] nominees.''
Mr Horrell said the judges had a hard job choosing the winners of the nine categories, as the calibre of entries continued to be so high.
The nominees worked hard and showed great innovation, he said.
''You show leadership in your community not because you have to, but because you want to.
''You are our environmental champions.''