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Published on 23 February 2022
The August 2022 round of the Waitaki Biodiversity Fund is open to applications for new or existing projects that protect or enhance native habitats in the Waitaki. Now is the time to get in touch to talk through your application, might sure you are on the right track, and explore whether your project could align with another. Eligible projects include fencing to protect indigenous vegetation, control of plant pests or predator trapping within native habitat. Applications must be made to the Planning department before 21 August, for assessment by the Awards Committee in September 2022. Please contact the Biodiversity Advisor as soon as possible to indicate your interest in making an application.
Projects that were approved in the January 2022 Funding round include $4956 towards erecting rabbit-proof fencing around coastal headlands providing habitat to Critically Threatened Yellow-Eyed Penguins, $5000 towards control of wilding pines and gorse in the Kauru River, $1500 towards control of woody weeds within a QEII covenant on the Pleasant River Estuary, and $1710 towards establishing a predator trapping network in a forested catchment behind Hampden.
For each of these projects the Biodiversity Fund contributes up to 50% of the total project cost with the remainder of the cost paid by the applicant either as a cash contribution, or as an in-kind contribution for labor at a rate that set by agreement with council’s Biodiversity Advisor. Total contribution from Council to a project is not likely to exceed $5000 in a given funding round, however larger projects will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Projects are most likely to be approved where they protect or enhance existing habitats and must either be proposed Significant Natural Areas (SNA), meet the SNA criteria, or be protected by QEII covenants. Amenity tree plantings, and the creation of new habitats are less likely to be approved.
For more information email our Biodiversity Advisor Max Crowe: mcrowe@waitaki.govt.nz