MEDIA RELEASE: Outstanding farming innovators and next generation of ‘Green Kids’among finalists for

The finalists for the 2022 NT Natural Resource Management Awards, which celebrates those

leading the way in sustainability, agriculture, and protecting our natural environment, have

been announced.

The list includes 24 organisations and individuals across 8 categories, vying for top honours

at the prestigious NT Natural Resource Management Awards Gala Dinner, to be held on

Wednesday, 23 November.

Territory Natural Resource Management (TNRM) has been the proud host of the NT Natural

Resource Management Awards since 2014.

TNRM Chief Executive Officer Karen May explains that the NT Natural Resource

Management Awards are a chance to recognise and celebrate the exceptional Territorians

who commit their time and energy to looking after our land, water and biodiversity.

“We congratulate all finalists for the 2022 NT Natural Resource Management Awards,

whose impressive work spans the Territory, from the Anindilyakwa Land and Sea Rangers on

Groote Eylandt to Umbearra Station in Central Australia.”

Harvest Hill Orchard is a finalist in the ‘Farmers and Fishers Sustainability Award’ category,

which recognises innovative efforts to create new sustainable agricultural and aquacultural

practices.

‘Dragon fruit whisperer’ Vuong Nguyen explains that the responsible growing practices at

the Harvest Hill Orchard’s 42-acre property at Lambells Lagoon are some of the most unique

in Australia and stand the farm in good stead for industry scalability.

“Our outstanding sustainability and natural resource management achievements at Harvest

Hill Orchard have been made possible through a balanced and tailored application of

practices mostly developed on-farm,” Mr Nguyen said.

“We look to create a zero-waste farming system through reusing our own waste to make

bio-char and create a microbe solution similar to compost tea for our crops. We have

developed our own organic fungicides and pesticides, which we have used with great

results. We also look for opportunities to use by-product from other local industries to

reduce waste, such as using commercial fish carcasses to create a fish emulsion fertiliser to

grow our beautiful mangoes and dragon fruit.”

“Ultimately, our farming philosophy can be summed up as less input and more output,” Mr

Nguyen said.

Berry Springs Primary School’s ‘Growing Green Kids’ program is also among this year’s

outstanding finalists, in the ‘Next Generation NRM Award’ category. The Growing Green Kids program shows how schools can combine sustainable behaviours

with great learning outcomes and facilitator Kate Harden says that sustainability is second

nature to her students now.

“Our students are a new generation of advocates coming through and are learning lifelong

thinking and practices to make real change in their lives and community,” said Ms Harden.

“Recently they realised we were good at recycling but weren’t doing anything about our

hard plastics, so the school was able to use grant funding to purchase several machines to

turn hard plastics into items that can be reused at home and in the community.

“So far we are making tiles to use as coasters and just received our moulds to make

carabiners, combs and giant Jenga pieces for our students to use. We also want to connect

with local community groups and not-for-profit organisations to produce and supply useful

items for their projects.”

“As our students always say, the environment can’t speak for itself, so we need to be the

ones speaking up and leading others to make change and protect it,” Ms Harden said.

The NT Natural Resource Management Awards are the highlight of the 3-day Territory

Natural Resource Management Conference, which brings together landholders, community

groups, primary producers, Indigenous organisations, government and businesses to

network and learn from one another.

For a full list of the finalist of the 2022 NT Natural Resource Management Awards across all

8 categories, please see tnrmconference.org.au/nt-nrm-awards-22

About TNRM

TNRM is the central hub and focal point for natural resource management in the Territory

and coordinates and supports a range of important land, water, soil, flora and fauna

programs and projects.

TNRM is one of 56 regional natural resource management organisations Australia-wide and

is the only natural resource management body for the Northern Territory. TNRM is an

independent not-for-profit community organisation with a dedicated and professional team

of staff who work across the Northern Territory.

More information about TNRM can be found at territorynrm.org.au