The Sir Edmund Hillary Parks Award

This award recognises an individual’s outstanding contribution to the parks industry over a number of years or through action that has resulted in significant changes in attitude or management practice. 

The 2010 winners of the Sir Edmund Hillary Parks Award were Penelope Figgis AM and Mark Stone. Both Penelope and Mark have strived, over many years, to raise awareness of the importance of parks to environmental and human health and well-being.

Penelope Figgis AM

Penelope Figgis has been a leading figure in the Australian environment movement for over 30 years.  She has done this through the varied roles of environmental writer, lecturer, advocate and consultant.   She has written extensively on conservation topic, and has held many different offices in environment organisations.

Penelope has been involved with protected area advocacy & campaigns since the mid-late 70s. She is currently Vice Chair for Oceania of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas.

Mark Stone

Mark Stone has worked for over 30 years within Victoria’s natural management authorities.  He has held senior and executive roles within many natural resource management organisations, most recently as Parks Victoria’s CEO.  Mark has been instrumental in advocating the critical role of parks in human health and oversaw the inaugural launch of Healthy Parks Healthy on the international stage.

Excellence in Parks Awards

Winners for the four categories of Excellence in Parks Awards were announced by Minister Frank Sartor, NSW Minster for Climate Change and the Environment.  These four awards aim to recognise excellence and best practice in operational programs, as evidenced by improved outcomes in the park/ parks in which they are implemented. The winners were

Excellence in Parks – Social Winner: The Royal Parks for their Sports Delivery at The Regent's Park, UK

Project Overview:  Between 2003 and 2005, £5.5million was invested in improving sports facilities at The Regent’s Park, UK delivering a new state of the art pavilion ‘The Hub’.  It incorporates

-   many innovative design features for sustainability

-   change room facilities for 290 people beneath a grassed mound topped by a terrace and

walled café with panoramic views of Grade I listed parkland

- multifunctional spaces for exercise classes, meetings and social events

- 48 re-laid sports pitches, surrounded by meadowland

- a new team to engage the community in sports, active recreation and healthy living.

Judging Panel Overview:  The judges said the early involvement of community, specific objectives, clear accountability to external agencies and its overall achievement makes this a great example to learn from.  In particular, the endorsement by the London Football association indicated that it was a quality program.

Excellence in Parks – Environmental Winner: Department of Conservation, NZ for the Rangitoto/Motutapu Pest Eradication project

Project Overview: The Rangitoto and Motutapu pest eradication project aims to enhance the ecological, recreational and cultural values of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park by removing seven pest species from the two islands (3,842ha). 

For the first time five pest species were eradicated from a large area and prevented from reinvading highly accessible and intensively visited islands. 

While led by the DOC the project is a collaboration between a number of stakeholders and presents an unrivalled opportunity to engage the community in conservation.

Judging Panel Overview: The judges felt that this was an extremely high quality application which clearly articulated the goals and planning process. There was excellent community involvement and the project provides ongoing monitoring and learning opportunities.

Excellence in Parks – Cultural Winner: Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport, together with the Traditional Owners, the Northern Land Council and Central Land Council for the Framework for Joint Management Implementation project

Project Overview: The Northern Territory's Parks and Wildlife Service and the Traditional Owners are developing new joint management arrangements on 27 parks across the Northern Territory.

Building cross-cultural understandings has been central to the success of the project.  This has required developing new governance arrangements, employment and training programs, cultural mapping, mixing of contemporary and Indigenous ecological knowledge into park management.

Judging Panel Overview: The Framework for Joint Management Implementation project was seen to address an important part of park management. It identified a clear program for co-management that included the exchange of cultural information.  They said they were keen to hear more about the program in the future it was at the beginning of a large and complex process. 

Excellence in Parks – Economic Winner:  Department of Conservation, NZ for the Otago Central Rail Trail project. 

Commendations were also awarded to Auckland Regional Council for their Stoneleigh Sculpture in the Gardens 2009/10 program and jointly to Conservation Volunteers Australia and Parks, Conservation and Lands for the Tidbinbilla and Conservation Volunteers Australia Volunteer Interpreter Program.

Project Overview: Gaggles of excited cyclists swooping on the nearest café, accommodation units being built next to the shearing shed and the revival of rural pubs are just a few of the signs of the economic success of the Otago Central Rail Trail.

In just eight years 150 kilometres of railway wasteland have been transformed into a successful recreation and heritage asset.

Key factors in developing New Zealand’s first rail trail include developing a strong partnership with the communities along the Trail, sourcing funding in an innovative manner and implementing a continual planning loop.

Judging Panel Overview: The entry demonstrated an innovative and sustained effort to build a recreational and cultural experience with good economic flow-on from a small beginning, involving substantial community input.

The judges appreciated the capacity of the applicants to clearly articulate the economic benefit of the program. 

Parks Forum’s Board Commendation

The Parks Forum Board formally recognised the life time commitment of Elery Hamilton-Smith AM through a commendation for his work for parks around the world, starting with his advocacy work in the 1940s.  Elery has held many professorial appointments and undertaken various roles with UNESCO and the United Nations development program. He also has many years of working within various IUCN programs, as a volunteer.

Sponsors

Parks Forum would like to thank Australian Geographic for their sponsorship of the Sir Edmund Hillary Parks Award and Auckland Regional Council for their generous support as an Industry Partner.  The successful Awards ceremony was the culmination of a much hard work by many Parks Forum member agencies and their staff.