Council fund helps boost Kaipara environmental projects

 Are you preserving a wetland, replanting native bush or doing something else to improve Kaipara’s natural environment?

People improving Kaipara’s natural environment are being offered help from Kaipara District Council’s Biodiversity Improvement Fund which has up to $15,000 to assist worthwhile projects. Applications which must be lodged by Monday 16 March 2009.

The fund was established in 2004 to encourage environmental projects in Kaipara and Individuals, groups, community and conservation organisations, Maori groups or schools are eligible to apply.

Grants are made on the basis of reimbursing costs and are for a maximum of 50 percent of a project’s value.

“There are people making a huge difference to Kaipara’s environment and we want to acknowledge and encourage them,” says Community Spaces Manager Stephen Soole, who urges anyone involved in an environmental project to consider applying for assistance.

“It doesn’t matter how big or small a project is as long as it is about improving Kaipara’s natural biodiversity.”

In judging applications Council will also consider the degree of community benefit and the extent of other contributions, including voluntary labour.

Last year six applicants received a total of $10,890 for projects which included purchasing humane pest traps for use in a large covenanted area at Brynderwyn, fencing and replanting areas of native bush, restoring coastal dunes at Glinks Gully and replanting the margins of Lake Rototuna on the Pouto peninsula.

Guidelines and application forms are available from Council’s offices in Dargaville and Kaiwaka or on the website www.kaipara.govt.nz.