Coastal ecosystem recovery project gets FRST funding

A Canterbury University-led research project has received almost $1 million in funding from the Foundation for Research Science and Technology (FRST).

The project, which will receive $333,000 a year for three years, will look at the rehabilitation of coastal ecosystems after the removal of high levels of nutrients with the aim of determining how local authorities can best invest in water resource restoration.

Led by Professor David Schiel (Biological Sciences), the project team comprises researchers from UC and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

Professor Schiel said the project would study the ecological recovery of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary after the diversion of nutrient-rich, treated wastewater discharge to a new offshore outfall this year.

“The aim is to understand the processes of coastal ecosystem recovery following removal of excessive nutrient loading and use this as a model for cost-benefit analysis of sewage diversion projects elsewhere.”

FRST has allocated $136 million in funding to both public and private research organisations in its main 2009 investment round.
Foundation Chief Executive Murray Bain said the investment round would support some groundbreaking scientific research with the potential to deliver substantial benefits to New Zealand.