MEDIA RELEASE
Environmental fund opens for applications
For immediate release: 1 July 2009

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 2009/10 fund round are now open, and this year there’s $300,000 available for community groups. During the past nine years more than three hundred projects have received more than $6 million for a range of environmental initiatives, including wetland restoration, education workshops and pest weed and animal control.

Environmental Enhancement Fund Sub-committee Chairman Malcolm Whitaker said community groups, iwi, businesses and local organisations could apply for up to $30,000 funding to help with their project.

“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,” Councillor Whitaker explained.

The regional council is targeting three key areas that are particularly important for the region. They are water quality (streams, lakes and lake margins), harbours and estuaries, and threatened species habitats.
Councillor Whitaker said projects involving these elements would receive additional points during the assessment process. First-time applicants, and those who had been unsuccessful in previous years, would be more favourably considered 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 or to contact their local regional councillors.

“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 21 August. For more information, please contact Environment Bay of Plenty 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 regional 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 - 21 July 12.30 to 1:30pm Eastbay REAP, 21 Pyne Street
Tauranga - 22 July 12.30 to 1:30pm Mount Maunganui Cosmopolitan Club, 54 Miro Street, Mount Maunganui
Rotorua 23 July 12.30 to 1:30pm Environment Bay of Plenty Rotorua Office
Please call Sandy Hohepa on 0800 ENV BOP (368 267) to register or just turn up.

ENDS

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