INDEPENDENT NEWS

Environmental fund gives nearly $1 million

Published: Wed 3 Dec 2003 04:29 PM
MEDIA RELEASE
Environmental fund gives nearly $1 million
For immediate release: Wednesday 3 December 2003
An underwater harbour cleanup, work to protect native orchids and an East Cape recycling centre are three of nearly $1 million worth of projects to receive money from Environment Bay of Plenty’s Environmental Enhancement Fund this year.
Environment Bay of Plenty has announced it will give just over $900,000 to 33 community and 13 district council projects in the region.
While most of the funding will support new initiatives, some of it will be used to extend current schemes. They include an animal pest programme at Lake Tarawera, now in its fourth year, and ongoing work at The Elms homestead in Tauranga.
A school, environmental groups, and marae are also on the list for funding this year. District council projects mostly focus on pest plant and animal control work.
Chairman John Cronin says the fund reflects the regional council’s mission statement, “working with our communities for a better environment”. “We are always trying to encourage people to actively care for the environment – and this is an important way we can support their work,” he explains.
Mr Cronin says the diversity of the funded projects reflects the environmental aspirations of the region’s population. He says over the years the fund has supported many good projects and those involved are proud of what they are achieving for the environment. But it has also benefited the community in other ways, he adds, with people gaining in both knowledge and skill because of it.
When community groups launch into a project, they often go through a major process of upskilling, he says. “It’s a steep learning curve for a while.” They may have to prepare a site for planting, monitor water quality, or publish a booklet.
“Often, especially on land management projects, volunteers carry out much of the work. As they will tell you, it can be quite a large commitment. And it can be a little daunting at first, which is why we assign a staff member to every project. They are there to offer guidance and advice and to help keep things on track.“
Since it started four years ago, the fund has allocated more than $4 million to nearly 200 community and district council projects.
This year’s allocations are as follows:
Community Projects
Katikati Primary School - construct a shade house and enhance the gully at Katikati Primary School, $2,787;
Progress Ngongotaha - Kokiri Ngongotaha Inc - extend the existing restoration project on the Ngongotaha Stream (stage 4), $60,000;
Whakatane and District Historical Society Inc - develop an inventory of historic places within the Whakatane township, $19,950;
Aquatek Limited - implement regular clean-ups in Tauranga Harbour and raise public awareness about pollution in the marine environment, $8,037;
Department of Conservation - service mustelid trap lines within the Ohope Reserve to protect the North Island Brown Kiwi (stage 3), $33,860;
Athenree Homestead Trust Inc - carry out pest plant control and provide access to the woodland area of the Athenree Homestead gardens, $720;
Norske Skog - restore 2.7 hectares on a meander loop of the Tarawera River (stage 2), $18,750;
Department of Conservation - control rats and possums in the newly-established core area at Ohane, northern Te Urewera National Park (stage 2), $41,440;
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society; Eastern BOP - continue the stoat trapping project in the Te Urewera National Park (year 4), $35,375
Graeme and Jude Lewer - restore and enhance the wetland and surrounding native bush at the Whakatane Cemetery, $3,195;
Sustainable Business Network Bay of Plenty - hold seminars, workshops and educational forums for businesses in the Bay of Plenty region to improve sustainable business practices.
$2,300; Implement a single pilot training scheme for Bay of Plenty businesses to develop Triple Bottom Line reporting mechanisms and practices, $2,000;
Rotorua-Ngongotaha Rail Trust - undertake planting surrounding a constructed wetland in Ngongotaha and develop interpretation panels explaining wetland processes and functions, $8,550;
Opotiki and District 10,000 Club - erect two heritage interpretation panels (at Taraitu Pa site and Opotiki wharf) and update the Opotiki library historic photo display, $5,725;
Taneatua School - fence and restore a wetland at Taneatua School, $2,030;
Rotorua Botanical Society - undertake pest plant control and develop interpretation panels at Tikitapu Reserve, Lake Okareka, $6,581;
New Zealand Historic Places Trust - analyse excavated material from a recent archaeological investigation and develop a public education programme on prehistoric settlement on the Papamoa dune plain, $21,525;
Te Puke Fish and Game Club - continue to control animal pests in the Kaituna Wildlife Management Reserve (stage 3), $7,911;
NZ Archaeological Association - complete assessing and upgrading the Bay of Plenty file of archaeological sites (stage 2), $15,000;
Environmental Education for Resource Sustainability Trust - promote the removal of paper and cardboard for recycling in schools through the "Paper for Trees" programme (year 3), $7,868;
Opotiki Community Theatre Trust - complete the foyer/entrance heritage restoration at the De Luxe Theatre, Opotiki, $4,500;
Lake Tarawera Pest Control - continue and extend the animal pest programme around the settlement area of Lake Tarawera to include Kariri Point (stage 4), $15,053;
Te Kuku o te Manawa Maori Reservation - enhance natural character and facilitate public understanding of a Maori Reservation at Hinemoa Point Road, Rotorua, $6,188;
Department of Conservation - initiate a 10-year restoration plan for Tumurau wetland (year 1), $22,300;
New Zealand Historic Places Trust - develop and provide information and training for key agencies on built heritage in the Bay of Plenty, $18,700;
Te Puna Quarry Park Society - continue the implementation of a "native trees for timber" project (Tane's Tree Trust) at Te Puna Quarry Park, $5,788;
Te Kura O Te Moutere O Matakana Te Kotukutuku - restore the Native School Cottage at Matakana Island School (stage 1), $30,000;
Pukehina M1B3 Trust - protect a waahi tapu Urupa site on the dunes of Pukehina Beach and erect interpretation panels on the history of the site, $5,000;
Taupo Orchid Society (Inc) HPA Management Committee - undertake pest plant and pest animal control and planting to protect native orchids in Iwitahi, $32,510;
Ngai Tama Hapu Opape Marae Trustees - control and manage weed infestations along the walkway to Morices Bay at Opape, $4,416;
Eastbay REAP - provide a teaching resource, including instruction manuals, to support the Trees for Survival Programme, $6,590;
Western Bay of Plenty District Council - extend and develop the Wild About NZ project, $12,725;
The Elms Foundation - develop a conservation and management plan and erect interpretation panels for The Elm's heritage gardens, $40,000;
Te Runanga o Ngati Awa-Ngati Awa Farm Committee – undertake an archaeological survey and prepare an archaeological sites management strategy for Ngati Awa Farm, $9,000.
Total: $516,374
District Councils
Tauranga: Plant a stormwater detention pond at Pyes Pa to improve stormwater quality, $30,000; construct a hazardous waste store at Te Maunga Transfer Station, $32,500; develop a conservation plan for Mauao, $21,150; enhance the waterways, margins and surrounding lands of the Westmoreland Rise tributary valley, $65,000.
Western Bay of Plenty: Educate the Western Bay of Plenty community on adverse effects of septic tank systems by producing information booklets, public displays and running seminars and workshops, $20,000.
Kawerau: Control plant and animal pests, upgrade public access ways and replant indigenous flora in the Monika Lanham Reserve (stage 2), $64,500;
Whakatane: Control plant pests on the Whakatane escarpment, $23,000; develop a heritage trail through the Whakatane urban area (stage 3), $21,554; carry out animal pest control maintenance within Mokoroa and Kohi Point Scenic Reserves (stage 2), $35,485; control plant pests at the Western Whakatane Coastal Recreation Reserve (stage 3), $29,825.
Opotiki: Implement weed control measures on road reserve (Ohiwa Beach Road,
Ohiwa Harbour Road, Ohiwa Loop Road and Ruatuna Road) adjoining
the margins of Ohiwa Harbour, $7,520; establish a Resource Recovery Centre at Te Kaha, $44,000; undertake environmental restoration work on two sites adjacent to Wainui Road and the Nukuhou River estuary, Ohiwa Harbour, $10,760.
Total: $405,294
ENDS

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