ARC gives more than $400,000 to environmental and heritage projects

24 November 2009

Projects protecting Auckland’s environment have been given a major boost with $435,174 worth of grants from the Auckland Regional Council.

The ARC Environmental Initiatives Fund (EIF) provides grants to support practical projects in the Auckland region that benefit the environment.

ARC Environmental Management Committee Chair Councillor Dianne Glenn says 105 projects received EIF funding this year. The average grant was $4,145, a 36 per cent increase from the previous year.

“EIF is an excellent way in which the ARC can support the many groups who are dedicated to protecting and enhancing the environment,” says Cr Glenn.

Since the first funding round in 2000 the ARC has provided 1235 grants worth more than $3 million to community projects that enhance the region’s environment.

Some of the successful projects that received funding this year include:

Auckland City

- Motairehe Marae received $2,115 for its Motairehe environmental project.

- Katherine Bay Restoration Trust received $5,000 to fund a rat eradication project.

- St Stephen’s Presbyterian Church received $5,500 to prepare a conservation plan and documentary project on the church.

Franklin

- Te Hihi School received $7,000 to contribute to its native bush learning centre project.

- Erikson Family Trust received $6,013 for a gully restoration project.

- Pukekohe East Church Preservation Society Incorporated received $8,888 to rewire their its water supply as outlined in the conservation plan.

Manukau

- Elm Park School received $891 for a lizard garden project.

- Wai Care received $4,500 to the Papatoetoe Stream restoration project.

- Selwyn Anglican Church Mangere East received $15,000 to contribute to undergrounding power supply mains.

North Shore

- Forest and Bird North Shore Branch received $3,150 to fund the Tuff Crater restoration project.

- Devonport Community Garden received two grants, one for $690 and another of $497 for its community garden greenhouse and worm farm projects.

Papakura

- Drury School received $3,500 for its junior wilderness area project.

- Kauri Bay Farm received $15,000 for a reforestation project.

Rodney

- Bella Trust received $15,000 or the Hoteo River headwater catchment protection and restoration project.

- New Zealand Native Forests Restoration Trust received $4,950 for an invertebrate survey of Tupare Lake and wetland project.

- Forestedge Community Group received $4,125 for a native planting project.

Waitakere

- Henderson Valley School received $2,285 for a native plant identification trail project.

- Waituna Action Group received $10,000 to fund the Waituna Reserve restoration project.

- Adventure Camp Trust Board received $2,400 to fund a school stream science project.

Honda New Zealand, a vital sponsor of the EIF, contributed more than $117,000 to fund the planting of trees this year.

For every new car Honda sells it donates funding to EIF that is equivalent to the cost of 10 native trees. For more information visit www.honda.co.nz

Environmental Initiatives Fund Recipients 2009 (doc)

ENDS

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