Interest sought in new Infrastructure Fund

Interest in a fund set up to support the development of infrastructure is being sought by Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The Regional Infrastructure Fund, which has been created to provide additional capital funding to assist the development of major infrastructure projects in the Bay of Plenty, opens next week for an Expressions of Interest process.

Visit the Regional Infrastruture Fund page for more information about the fund >>

More than $38 million has been set aside to support external infrastructure projects over the nine years to June 2022.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council General Manager Strategy Fiona McTavish said the Fund is targeted at projects which support sustainable economic growth, or that promote environmental protection and enhancement by supporting sustainable regional economic development.

"Specifically, we want to help accelerate infrastructure projects in the region," Ms McTavish said. "We hope, through this Fund, to improve the outcomes and quality of those projects or help to increase their scope."

Ms McTavish said as this is the first time this type of funding process had been run by the Regional Council they were keen to gauge the level of interest in the funding through this expressions of interest round. The first funding application round will be held between November and January.

"It's important to note that depending on the types and quantity of applications we receive, we may decide to allocate all available funding through the first funding round, so we may decide not to hold further funding rounds in coming years," Ms McTavish said. "Because of this, we're asking that anyone who has an eligible project that is planned for any time in the period to June 2022 to put their interest forward."

Full details about what projects could be eligible, and information about how making an expression of interest is available on the Regional Council's website www.boprc.govt.nz

"Expressions of interest close on 21 September and we're hoping to get a good response from those in the regional community who have projects to develop infrastructure."

A briefing will be held for prospective applicants on Monday 20 August - for more information about this visit www.boprc.govt.nz/rif or call 0800 884 880.