Media Release
6 December 2011

Funding applications closing for river cleanup projects

The deadline for the first round of funding applications for projects that cleanup the Waikato River will close shortly.

The Waikato River Authority is receiving applications up until the 16th of December.

The Authority is a co-governance body established between the Crown and Waikato River Iwi to restore the Waikato River. It is co-chaired by Mr Tukoroirangi Morgan and the Hon John Luxton.

The Authority is able to distribute funds each year for projects that will improve the health and wellbeing of the river. In this first year of funding, an allocation of up to $6 million will be made.

Funding applications, both large and small, are being sought from organisations the length of the Waikato River that have projects and initiatives they would like to implement for the betterment of the river and its catchment. The Authority’s region for funding includes the Waikato River and its catchment from Huka Falls through to Port Waikato. It also includes the lower part of the Waipa River below the junction with the Puniu River (near Pirongia).

The government has committed $210 million over the next 30 years to ensure the Authority has the resources it needs to protect the Waikato River from further degradation.

Funding criteria and six priority funding areas have been established to guide applicants and to ensure the effectiveness of the clean-up fund.

The Waikato River Authority’s funding strategy is to see many projects requiring smaller amounts of funding in the tens of thousands of dollars range. It also expects to receive applications for higher cost projects in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and above, but will fund fewer of these applications

An application for funding of clean-up projects can be made to the Waikato River Authority through until 16 December this year. Applicants will be notified in the early part of next year regarding which projects are successful.

The Authority’s website www.waikatoriver.org.nz contains more information about the funding criteria and application forms.

Ends

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