Launched in the resort in March 2010 by the Queenstown Lakes Biodiesel Consortium, the pilot programme is led by the Otago Polytechnic Centre for Sustainable Practice.
The consortium provides New Zealand's first public biodiesel refuelling facility. Its development was funded by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
The initiative brought biodiesel (Biogold NZ20 - a blend of used cooking oil and mineral diesel) to Queenstown and 20 tourism operators now use biodiesel in 66 commercial vehicles.
The trial means up to 38 tonnes of CO2 is now not entering the atmosphere. Tim Barke, of Kiwi Discovery, has been involved with the programme from its inception.
"The pilot has been very successful for us and we're delighted to report absolutely no issues in running vehicles on biodiesel. We are most certainly prepared to increase our use of the fuel as much as possible. I'd like to see biodiesel in a truck-stop so it's easy for all big commercial vehicles to access. The ultimate goal for me is to get biodiesel available to the general public through mainstream fuelling facilities," he said.
The Centre for Sustainable Practice has also received three national awards recognising its work in the Queenstown Lakes district.
Biodiesel consortium project leader and director of the Centre for Sustainable Practice Steve Henry said he was very pleased with the success of the programme and that his goal was to continue working with Queenstown Lakes district businesses to increase sustainable practice in the region and further afield.
"The results speak for themselves. There are several programmes run by the centre and all are producing results for the region.
As well as success with biodiesel, we've engaged more than 40 businesses in sustainable practice through our customised training programmes and we have 12 students working in the area in our Wanaka-based graduate diploma programme," he said.
The Centre for Sustainable Practice will hold a series of public forums in the district featuring a presentation by fuel authority Andrew Campbell.
The first is tomorrow in Cromwell, at Molyneux Restaurant in Erris St from 1pm to 2.30pm. It will be followed by a Wanaka presentation at 15 Cliff Wilson St from 4pm to 5pm.
On Friday, the final forum will take place in the Queenstown Memorial Hall from 12.30pm.
