Councillor and Larne environmental teams are finalists in NILGA awards

A LARNE councillor and staff from the parks and wastes services departments were finalists in the annual awards promoted by the NI Local Government Association (NILGA).

The awards presented at NILGA’s annual conference and dinner at the Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick, last week recognised excellence, innovation and delivery of services.

Alderman Roy Beggs had been nominated in the category Best Initiative By A Councillor for work pioneered to bring about the establishment of Clements Wood. Ald Beggs secured acorn oaks from the late Queen Mother’s estate at Glamis Castle to be grown on by council parks staff and eventually planted through a cross-community schools initiative.

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The wood, which is growing and maturing, has recently been designated a local nature reserve providing a range of habitats for different animal and plant species.

The waste services team were finalists for their delivery of a number of projects in 2010/2011 including the attainment of funding for and delivery of the Larne South Household Recycling Centre, which opened last May; securing funding for a glass-collection lorry and bin inserts for the doorstep collection of glass; and diverting residual waste from household recycling centres to a company in Belfast where recyclable material is extracted and the remainder converted to waste-derived fuel.

The team was also shortlisted for overall management of the waste service, which has now pushed the Council’s recycling rate over the 50 per cent barrier.

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