Expensive pet food!
OPINION: Your canine crusader was staggered to learn that an investigation by the Taxpayers' Union has revealed that taxpayers and Otago ratepayers have forked out more than $2.76 million to kill just... 18 wallabies!
The move has been made in an attempt to boost local biodiversity-focused projects.
It is estimated the fund will create more than 400 jobs with opportunities in ecology, restoration, trapping, pest control, fencing and project management through a $34 million funding boost.
An $18 million dedicated Private Land Biodiversity Fund will be made available to established organisations that support groups of private landowners to work together to protect and restore habitats that safeguard populations of native species on private land.
“We know many farmers value and are active in managing biodiversity on their farms, and this fund provides the opportunity to support groups of landowners to expand biodiversity projects while also providing jobs,” Allan says.
$16 million has been set aside for a Community Conservation Fund designed to be used by community-led conservation projects on public and private lands.
“This approach will help established community groups scale up their projects, take their conservation goals to the next level and provide great employment opportunities for locals.”
“This is not only a big win for biodiversity on private and public land, it is also a big win for local communities and their post-Covid economic revival,” Allan says.
The investment is part of the $1.245 billion Jobs for Nature Covid-19 recovery package aimed at providing nature-based job opportunities for 1000 people over the next four years.
