$100,000 allocated for biodiversity projects in Lower Waitaki

At its public meeting in late April the Lower Waitaki zone committee announced six projects would receive a share of $100,000 in Immediate Steps funding.

The six projects include initiatives to enhance wetlands and water quality, fencing to keep stock out of waterways, endangered fish habitat protection as well as planting and weed management programmes in the zone.

Lower Waitaki Zone Committee Chair Robin Murphy says the Immediate Steps funding will help address significant biodiversity issues in the area.

“We are very pleased to have been able to come to a consensus decision to provide funding for six biodiversity projects. We believe these projects fit the aims of the Immediate Steps programme the best and are sure they will result in enhancements in our regions biodiversity.

“We tested each applicant’s project against specific and well-defined criteria set by the Canterbury Water Management Strategy and each project was also subjected to ecological merit and cultural value assessments by scientific experts and runanga.

“The committee is looking forward to following the progress of all of these initiatives as they gather momentum,“ he said.

Immediate Steps is a $10 million programme for biodiversity which forms part of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy. The programme has an initial five year focus and covers the protection of endangered species and waahi taonga (sacred sites). It also covers maintenance of Canterbury’s braided rivers, providing habitat for native flora and fauna, as well as protecting wetlands and other ecosystems.

Environment Canterbury Commissioner Peter Skelton says the Immediate Steps biodiversity programme provides the funding required to help drive community-led biodiversity projects throughout the region.

“The implementation of Canterbury Water Management Strategy enables us to work with the community to deliver projects that will preserve, restore or enhance the Lower Waitaki’s unique ecosystems and indigenous biodiversity for future generations.

“All six projects endorsed by the zone committee will make a positive difference to protecting important eco-systems and waterways in the Lower Waitaki catchment and it is pleasing to see multiple groups and runanga coming together to champion these projects.

“The project to protect and enhance important wetland vegetation and native fauna habitats at Wainono Lagoon, for instance, involves a collaborative effort between the zone committee, Department of Conservation and Fish and Game,” he said.

At the meeting the zone committee was also given an update on the Regional Committee, received a presentation on RMA planning and discussed priorities for water management.

The Lower Waitaki Zone Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for 19 May 2011 in the Whitestone Cheese Empire Room, Oamaru Opera House.

The zone committee is also planning a number of field trips to visit sites of interest in the zone and talk to community members. The next field trip will be on 20 May to the Hakataramea Valley to look at how water is stored and used in the Hakataramea