20 | T T Richard Loader Down to earth project grows legs An initiative led by the team at Downer Otago, and involving residents at the Otago Corrections facility’s horticulture team has been recognised at the 2023 Grand Business South Awards. Dunedin: Downer - Otago REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT janine@mcdonough.co.nz 03 203 8245 Contact us for: Vegetation control • Concrete works • Trenching Thrusting • Excavation • Traffic Management Driveways • Civil Construction Civil Contractors - Dunedin 027 445 8570 glen.henderson@excav8limited.co.nz The merits of an initiative led by the team at Downer Otago, and involving residents at the Otago Corrections facility’s horticulture team, was duly recognised at the 2023 Grand Business South Awards. Downer Otago was named Finalist in the Excellence in Community Contribution category for its aptly titled Down to Earth programme which is about cultivating and growing plants that can be donated to volunteer community groups, collectives and initiatives within the Otago region, that otherwise rely on funding to purchase those plants. Chris Jones, Downer Otago’s Regional Manager says that instead of those groups raising the funds to buy the plants, Downer Otago buys the seeds and materials required and provides them to the Otago Corrections Facility in Milton. “The residents and horticulture team propagate the plants from seeds or cuttings, and develop them to a point where the plants can be transplanted into the open environment. “At that point we collect the plants from Corrections and donate them on to the volunteer community groups to use in their projects.” The genesis for the Down to Earth initiative was sparked over two years ago when Downer Otago donated some time, along with the use of line trimmers to assist with the Silverstream Beautification project, a local community initiative. “Silver Stream runs through Mosgiel and a local volunteer community group was trying to improve its aesthetic. “Through that initiative we became aware of the struggle that community organisations have to go through to secure plants for their projects. They have to complete applications to secure funding and then go to commercial entities to buy the plants. “We were able to join the dots and utilise our existing connections with Corrections, and develop the Down to Earth Programme.” Downer has a Corporate Social Outcomes team that works closely with Corrections all over the country to provide second chance opportunities for those rehabilitating back into the community, and there are various programmes that Downer run in conjunction with Corrections. To date over 15,000 plants with a market value of around $40,000 have been donated to a wide range of not-for-profit groups who donate their time to community beautification initiatives within the region. “We were able to join the dots and utilise our existing connections with Corrections, and develop the Down to Earth Programme.” Chris says those groups include wetland conservation groups, groups set up to maintain walkways or riverside amenities, schools who have had planting programmes or a playground upgrade that requires plants. “It is any not-for-profit group that is donating its time to community initiatives. Some of them are long term projects involving several years of development.” What started as a simple response to a community need, has become an on-going initiative, with community groups sending in orders for a particular type of plant, which is then coordinated with Corrections. Chris acknowledges that the prestigious and biannual Grand Business South Awards was the perfect opportunity to recognise the hard work that has been put into the project. “Whilst the award entry was very much Downer driven, the Department of Corrections was attributed within that submission, and members of their management team attended the awards evening with us.” 03 659 0777 Equipment For Hire! www.fulcrum.nz Excavators & Attachments Skid Steers & Attachments Wheel Loaders Rollers & Compactors Graders Site Dumpers Pumps & Generators 150 Mornington Rd, Dunedin | hire@fulcrum.nz Proudly Supporting Downer
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