Dugine Native Plant Nursery wins best Small Business Award

On Friday evening October 9, 2009 the annual Savewater! awards® were held at Daltone House in Sydney.
Dugine Native Plant Nursery in Queensland, nominated for two awards, was runner up in the Built Environment & Gardens Award and won the Best Small Business Award category.

The Judging Panel said: “Dugine Native Plant Nursery provided a great example of how significant water savings can be achieved through the setting of high targets for water conservation.” They continue: “It was difficult for the judges to go past an organisation that has managed to achieve 100% savings in potable water.”

Dugine Native Plant Nursery, with only four staff, has implemented various water saving initiatives in developing their nursery including the installation of water tanks with enough tank capacity for future needs and implementation of a wetland filtration system to improve on-site water quality as well as protecting the downstream waterway.

With support from the Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland (NGIQ) Dugine Native Plant Nursery has become NIASA accredited and is also EcoHort certified. They also hold regular workshops for other growers to demonstrate the benefits of being water wise.
“Dugine Native Plant Nursery has clearly demonstrated how industry accreditation programs can successfully translate into water conservation and overall environmental sustainability” said Dr Kachenko.

Congratulations to Erin Couper and her capable staff for a tremendous job in winning the Small Business Award and in growing and maintaining Dugine Native Plant Nursery as a sustainable and environmentally friendly nursery.

For more information please phone NGIA on (02)9876 5200.