$500,000 for 2008 NRC Environment Fund

Applications open soon for a $500,000 Northland Regional Council fund designed to help people protect and enhance the region’s precious natural environment. 

Applications for the Regional Council’s 2008 Environment Fund – now in its 13th year - open on Thursday 01 May and can be made until Friday 18 July.

Council Chairman Mark Farnsworth says since 1996 the fund has provided more than $2 million to help people improve and protect Northland’s natural environment.

Mr Farnsworth says as proposed, about $500,000 is expected to be available for this year’s fund.

Last year more than 150 projects worth more than $500,000 were funded, ranging from planting eroding sand dunes to protecting kiwi. Of those, 65 (worth $238,350) were based in the Far North District, 66 (worth $184,833) in the Whangarei District and 25 (worth $93,310) in the Kaipara.

The largest grant awarded last year was almost $18,000 to fence a large Bay of Islands wetlands system. The smallest grant – just $260 – was destined to control pest animals in the Far North.

The Environment Fund typically contributes up to 50 percent of the total cost of a project, with most grants for between $500 and $5000. Applicants must be able to provide the remainder of the cost with time, cash costs, other funding or in-kind contributions such as voluntary labour and donated materials.

Mr Farnsworth says projects must be of long-term benefit to the local environment and show clear evidence of good resource management. Projects designed to generate personal or commercial profit, required under a resource consent, or to simply beautify a site, are not eligible for funding.

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The fund is open to individuals and voluntary groups for eligible projects on private land. Landowners, community and conservation organisations, local Maori groups and schools have all successfully applied to the Environment Fund in the past.

Mr Farnsworth says as proposed, this year’s fund will once again be split across a number of areas:

General biodiversity protection
Wetland protection and enhancement
Pest animal and plant control
Revegetation and enhancement with native plants
Excluding stock from the Coastal Marine Area
Coast care projects (mainly sand dune stabilisation projects).
 

Mr Farnsworth says people wanting to check whether their project might qualify for funding should contact Regional Council Land Management staff on (0800) 002 004 as it is often valuable to consult with Council staff before filling in the application form.

Application forms and guidelines are also now available from all Northland Regional Council offices, by calling (0800) 002 004, sending an email to nolas@nrc.govt.nz or by visiting Council’s website www.nrc.govt.nz/environmentfund  

Applications must be with the Council by 5pm on Friday 18 July. Successful applicants will be notified by October 30 2008.