Nominations open today for the 2005 Queenstown Lakes District Heart of the District Awards, QLDC communications manager Meaghan Miller said.

"The awards are now entering their fourth year and continue to gain momentum every year. I have already received a number of early nominations for 2005, which is great," Ms Miller said.

The council established the awards in 2002 to give the community an opportunity to celebrate individuals who make a difference.

"Not only do these awards acknowledge the outstanding contribution that so many people make to their community but they also encapsulate the Civic Awards, which acknowledge a lifetime of contribution," Ms Miller said.

The Civic Awards are made at the discretion of the Mayor, while the Heart of the District Awards are in six categories:

• Arts
• Landscape and Urban Design
• Youth
• Business
• Environmental/Heritage
• Social and Cultural

All finalists were showcased and individually celebrated during the evening, with the category winners taking home framed certificates, bunches of flowers and the specially designed Heart of the District wooden and brass trophies to keep for a year.

"It's a really special night for people and their families. A chance for some well deserved, although not at all sought after, recognition," she said.

This year the award ceremony would take place at Queenstown (having been at Wanaka last year) on November 18 and would follow the same cabaret-style format that had proved to be a hit in other years.

Council staff decorated the hall, did the catering and ran the bar, while elected members got involved in presenting the individual awards.

Nominations forms were available now at council offices or could be downloaded from the council website www.qldc.govt.nz. Nominations close on October 28.

ENDS

For further information please contact Meaghan Miller 03 441 0499

By: Tamah