Deadline: 14-Oct-22
The Auckland Council is offering grants through its Regional Waterway Protection Fund programme to support landowner and community initiatives that will help to improve water quality in the rural areas of Franklin, Papakura, Rodney, and on Aotea Great Barrier islands.
These initiatives protect and enhance riparian margins to improve water quality and environmental outcomes.
The WPF:
- is available for projects on private land (focus areas will be confirmed)
- will support landowners and community groups to conserve and improve the health of the land, streams, wetlands, waterways and harbors through good riparian management by:
- reducing erosion
- restricting stock access to water, and
- enhancing water quality.
Funding priorities
The Council will prioritize the grant applications that have been successfully assessed against the following assessment criteria:
- The type of environmental benefits, including improved water quality, bank stabilization, reduction in contaminants through stock exclusion and aquatic ecological health
- The total area and length of riparian margin that your project or activity will protect and enhance
- The extent of community involvement in leading or participating in the project
- The connection with other landowners to form partnerships and share knowledge
- The extent of mana whenua involvement and participation in the project.
Focus Areas
- Environmental benefits : The type of environmental benefits including improved water quality and aquatic ecological health, the type and significance of the environment to be protected, the length or size of the waterway/wetland and total area to be protected.
- Community benefits: The extent of community involvement with the project. This might include community planting days, working with not-for-profits like Trees for Survival, hosting open days, or actively working with neighbours.
- Feasibility and likelihood of success : Projects should be practical and feasible. The project should have a high likelihood of all proposed activities being completed and within the funding timeframe.
- Partnership with Iwi : The level of collaboration and partnership with local hapu/iwi to provide cultural and social benefits.
Funding Information
- For the 2022-2023 financial year, (1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023), a total of $900,000 has been allocated for distribution to landowners for waterway protection projects in the areas of Auckland noted above.
- Applicants can apply for up to 50 per cent of their project cost, ie the applicant must supply or source the other half of the project budget.
- This contribution can be an in-kind contribution such as voluntary labour, or contribution by other donors.
- Applicants will have 18 months to complete the project.
Eligible Funding
The fund targets:
- protection, enhancement or restoration of streams, waterways, wetlands and riparian margins
- reduction of contaminants by:
- Fencing to exclude livestock and enhance riparian buffers
- Provision of alternative water supplies
- Planting native plants along watercourses.
Eligible Project
- Environment
Outcomes
The WPF supports projects that:
- Protect and enhance land, streams, wetlands and waterways and
- Reduce the potential for erosion and water contamination.
Eligibility Criteria
Funding is available in the Franklin, Papakura, Rodney and Great Barrier Island areas to all:
- Landowners
- Farmers and lifestyle block owners
- Community and environmental groups.
The waterway protection project must be on private land with a property size of 5 hectares or over.
If you have an existing grant and have spent the funding as agreed, you can apply again for the next stage of your project.
For more information, visit https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/grants-community-support-housing/grants/grants-calendar/Pages/grant-details.aspx?itemID=64