Wednesday, 10 January 2024 14:55

ORC ECO Fund receives boost

Written by  Staff Reporters
Last year's funding round included a riparian planting project in South Otago. Last year's funding round included a riparian planting project in South Otago.

Otago Regional Council’s (ORC’s) annual ECO Fund round for community projects which opens 1 March has received a 58.4% boost to available funds, now topping $900,000.

The combined ECO Fund and four Incentives Funds are joined by a one-off “large-scale biodiversity fund” this year, targeting projects in a range of $50,000 to $150,000.

The funding underpins the ORC’s partnership with local communities throughout the Otago region to improve the environment, which under the different categories can include on-ground works, biodiversity enhancement, water monitoring, animal or plant pest control, native planting and regeneration, education, or administrative support.

ORC Councillor and chair of the ECO Fund, Alan Somerville says the ECO Fund provides value to Otago communities and the environment, and this year it’s the biggest ever pool of funding available.

“Communities know what is most important in their own areas, and money from the ECO Fund can enable them to turn their ideas into action,” he says.

Somerville says the criteria is broad and covers biodiversity, biosecurity, and improving water quality.

“Last year’s funding round included projects to establish a trap library at Taieri Mouth, removal of lupins in the Lindis Pass, plants for riparian planting in South Otago, and rabbit fencing at Moeraki and Wanaka,” he says.

He says the fund can also cover up to 50% of wage costs for project coordinators.

“Local groups across Otago put a huge amount of work into protecting and enhancing the environment,” Somerville says. “The benefits are boundless.”

“The larger fund this year will be able to support more projects. It’s a very good plan to contact the Council to discuss your project before putting your application in,” he adds.

ORC manager environmental implementation, Libby Caldwell, says the addition of the one-off large-scale project fund reflects that the ECO Fund and Incentives Funds have been consistently oversubscribed by more than 100% of the funds available.

“We’re definitely seeing greater interest in community-led projects around Otago and want to foster more of these partnerships which so positively enhance the environment,” she says.

Caldwell says that since the ECO Fund’s inception in 2018, 133 projects have received grants totalling $1.71 million.

“The large-scale funding came about from several funding requests made to Council through its Long Term Plan and Annual Plan processes, so we have listened to our community and are providing assistance with getting these large-scale biodiversity projects off the ground and ensuring that how we allocate our funding to projects is fair and contestable.”

Caldwell says the biodiversity budget for 2023-24 already included $300,000 for biodiversity outcomes, and the large-scale fund will be easily integrated within the already established ECO Fund system.

“The diversity of the categories has enabled some great community outcomes over the past six years and the aim is to continue this,” she concludes.

The criteria for the new large scale biodiversity grants includes that the project must address biodiversity outcomes, be in a range of $50,000 and $150,000 and be completed by June 2025.

More like this

'Sheer arrogance'

OPINION: A reader recently called out the Hound for not giving Federated Farmers enough credit for taking Otago Regional Council to task on its dodgy rule changes.

Feds, council at loggerheads

Federated Farmers is calling for transparency from Otago Regional Council amid a debate over proposed freshwater rules.

'Stand stock' before Moving Day

Southern dairy farmers are being reminded to undertake best practices to safeguard water quality and transport safety when the annual stock Moving Day begins shortly.

Featured

New UHT plant construction starts

Construction is underway at Fonterra’s new UHT cream plant at Edendale, Southland following a groundbreaking ceremony recently.

National

Machinery & Products

GEA launches robotic milkers

Milking technology provider GEA Farm Technologies is introducing its first automatic milking system (AMS) in New Zealand.

More front hoppers

German seeding specialists Horsch have announced a new 1600- litre double-tank option that will join its current Partner FT single…

Origin Ag clocks up 20 years

With roots dating back to 2004, Origin Ag was formed as a co-operative business model that removed the traditional distributor,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Dark ages

OPINION: Before we all let The Green Party have at it with their 'bold' emissions reduction plan, the Hound thought…

Rhymes with?

OPINION: The Feds' latest banking survey shows that bankers are even less popular with farmers than they used to be,…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter