Environmental fund opens for applications

For immediate release: Tuesday 17 June 2008

Do you have an idea for enhancing the Bay of Plenty’s environment? If so, now’s the time to put your plans into action with a helping hand from Environment Bay of Plenty’s Environmental Enhancement Fund.

Applications to the fund are now open, and this year there’s more than $450,000 on offer. During the last eight years more than two hundred projects have received more than $5 million for a range of environmental initiatives, including wetland restoration, education workshops and heritage work.

Environmental Enhancement Fund Sub-committee Chair, Malcolm Whitaker, said community groups, iwi, businesses and local authorities should apply.

“We are looking for projects that directly enhance our environment while involving people in the community, such as clearing and planting riverbanks, restoring a wetland/bird habitat or for schools growing plants and trees,” he explains.

The regional council is targeting three key areas that are particularly important for the region. They are wetlands, waterways and lake margins, harbours and estuaries and threatened species habitats.

Environmental Enhancement Fund Officer, Sandy Hohepa said projects involving these elements will receive bonus points during the assessment process. First-time applicants, and those who have been unsuccessful in past years, are being targeted as well.

Environment Bay of Plenty’s website contains in-depth information on the fund, including application forms. Interested people are also invited to attend information sessions throughout the Bay of Plenty in July.

“We’re running these gatherings again this year so people can find out more about the criteria for funding and the types of projects that are eligible for it. We’ll go through the application form with them as well, so they’re a great time to ask us questions about getting your project started.”

Applications close on 31 July. For more information, give Environment Bay of Plenty a call on 0800 ENV BOP (368 267) or go to www.envbop.govt.nz. If you have a project in mind, contact Sandy or your local councillor to discuss your ideas.

Information workshops

Environment Bay of Plenty staff are running a series of information sessions for groups and individuals interested in applying to the fund.

Whakatane 8 July 12.30 to 1:30pm Environment Bay of Plenty Whakatane Office

Rotorua 9 July 12.30 to 1:30pm Environment Bay of Plenty Rotorua Office

Tauranga 10 July 1230 to 1:30pm and 6 to 7pm Mount Maunganui Cosmopolitan Club, 54 Miro Street, Mount Maunganui

Please call Sandy Hohepa on 0800 ENV BOP (368 267) to register or just turn up.

For further media information please contact Sandy Hohepa on 0800 368 267 or Prue Bentley, Communications Advisor on 021 929 349.

To download a high resolution photograph to go with the story, please visit: http://www.envbop.govt.nz/Publications/Media-Release-Photos.asp

ENDS

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