Zone committee confirms $100,000 in grants for biodiversity projects
Thursday 19 May 2011, 3:24PM
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The Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee agreed on seven projects to receive a share of $100,000 in Immediate Steps biodiversity funding at its meeting in April.
Of the seven projects approved by the committee, two are on the margins of Te Waihora, three are in the upper plains and two are in the Upper Waimakariri Basin. Projects include fencing to keep stock out of waterways, water quality enhancements, mudfish habitat protection and weed management programmes.
Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee Chair Peter Jackson says the Immediate Steps funding will enable much more rapid progress to be made in addressing urgent issues relating specifically to biodiversity.
“The process we used for selecting Year 1 Immediate Steps projects focussed on specific and well-defined projects which could be completed within a relatively short time frame. Each project was subjected to ecological merit and cultural value assessments by scientific experts and rūnanga.
“The projects we approved for support best fitted the Year 1 aims of the Immediate Steps programme and were consistent with the decision of the Regional Committee to make Te Waihora one of its 'flagship' projects.
“Of the Year-1 projects the high-country and mudfish projects will enable protection of intact examples of existing ecosystems, while the Te Waihora projects are a start towards the more challenging restoration of this lake system,” he says.
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 Donald Couch says the Immediate Steps biodiversity programme provides the funding required to make a difference throughout the region.
“As the Canterbury Water Management Strategy progresses and the community and stakeholders become even more involved, we look forward to delivering on many projects that preserve, restore or enhance Canterbury’s unique ecosystems and indigenous biodiversity for future generations.
“All seven projects endorsed by the Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee will make a positive difference to protecting important eco-systems and waterways in the Selwyn-Waihora catchment and it is pleasing to see multiple groups and rūnanga coming together to champion these projects.
“For instance the project to fence the southern end of Lake Pearson to protect the water quality and many species of fish in the area involves a collaborative effort between the zone committee, Department of Conservation, Fish and Game and the landowner,” he said.
The Immediate Steps programme is two-thirds funded by local government rates with the remaining third funded by external sources such as landholders, conservation or community groups.
The Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for 7 June 2011 in Rolleston.