New resource consent subsidy for community groups

16 September 2009

Community groups seeking resource consents could be eligible for a new Auckland Regional Council subsidy.
 
ARC’s Environmental Management Committee Chair Dianne Glenn says not-for-profit organisations undertaking projects of major public benefit are eligible for a grant to cover part of their consent fees.

“Many community groups and charities, who work tirelessly for their communities, are struggling at the moment so we saw this as a way in which we could ease some of their financial burden,” says Cr Glenn.

“We were also concerned that cost was stopping some community groups from applying for resource consents – we hope that this grant scheme will encourage those community groups to apply for consents.”

The ARC allocated $20,000 annually for the grant scheme through its 2009-2019 LTCCP.

A report on the new subsidy, tabled at yesterday’s Environmental Management Committee meeting, recommended that the subsidies be available for projects which have wide public benefit.

“Under the scheme, community groups will be able to apply for up to 50 per cent of the deposit fee of a non-notified consent, (approximately $1,000),” says Cr Glenn.

The subsidy will apply only to the fixed deposit fee for consents and not additional fees. Money will be allocated on a first-in-first-served basis until the funding is spent. Money not spent will be rolled over to the next year.

ENDS

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