ARC Grants Now Available

21 January 2004

The Auckland Regional Council is seeking environmentally aware Aucklanders to apply to its Environmental Initiatives Fund (EIF).

The EIF, now in its fourth year, was established to assist community groups and individuals to care for their environment. Groups and individuals undertaking not-for-profit practical projects that provide lasting benefits to the environment are encouraged to apply.

“We are committed to working with our communities to care for our environment,” said ARC Chair Gwen Bull. “We have had some great successes with the ARC’s Environmental Initiatives Fund.”

Last year 72 projects received funding with the average grant amount being around $2,000. Grants assisted in wetland and riparian management restoration projects, which involve fencing off areas and then planting native plants and trees. Environmental education projects within schools benefited with assistance to purchase structural materials for the creation of a nursery and the purchase of native plants. Other successful initiatives funded included pest and weed control, dune restoration and compost and worm bin recycling materials.

The fund is open to voluntary groups and individuals, including iwi, hapu, whanau, schools, community and care groups as well as individual landowners. Applicants can apply for up to $5,000 and the closing date is 26 February.

There is extra funding available administered by the EIF for projects benefiting the coastal environment, which comes from revenue that the ARC gathered from the Half Moon Bay Marina seabed licence back-fees.

Application packs and guidelines are available from the ARC, phone 366 2000 or visit www.arc.govt.nz to download the application forms.

ENDS

© Scoop Media