Eastland Port backs Enviroschools Tairawhiti Action Fund

Eastland Port has formalised its sponsorship of Enviroschools with the establishment of a Tairawhiti Action Fund that will make $4000 available each year for “student-led action projects”.

Regional Enviroschools coordinator, Anne Lister, says the fund is a “windfall” for students in Tairawhiti.

“Our students have visions for the future that are fabulous but totally hindered by finances, so this fund is an absolute windfall for them. There are some great proposals and we are very excited to see the students will be able to take some action for their schools and the environment, empowering them on their journey.”

Eastland Group’s sector manager logistics, Andrew Gaddum, says the sponsorship partnership reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to the local environment as well as to the local economy.

“It’s exciting for us to be able to give back to our community in this way. We’ve been providing schools with bark from the port’s debarking plant for some time, but the Action Fund will allow individual schools to turn their visions into reality.”

Mr Gaddum says Eastland Port is constantly looking for ways to improve the environmental impact of the port’s operations.

“We’ll begin a large-scale redevelopment of the upper log yard later this year. The multimillion dollar project will give the port another 1.5 hectares of general storage but it will also improve aesthetics for nearby residents, and drastically cut down on noise and dust. A robust storm water system will ensure any discharge from the site is disposed of properly.”

In addition, a four metre by six metre earth wall will be built around the perimeter of the site and planted with natives.

“We’ve had extensive consultation with landscape gardeners to ensure anything planted is what Captain James Cook and Joseph Banks would have seen on Titirangi Hill when they sailed into the bay. An internal fence will be entirely screened by the thousands of trees we plant.”

Schools to have been granted money from the Eastland Group Enviroschools Action Fund must spend their funds on their chosen student-led action projects by the end of Term 4, 2014. The schools granted funds are:

Te Hapara - Native bush walkway

Matawai - Bee garden

Waikirikiri - Garden extension

Wainui - Timber edging for school vege garden

Te Wharau - Bike racks

Awapuni - Forest restoration

Ngatapa - Green Suitcase

Ormond - Tactile Pathway

Makaraka – Learning Edge garden

Mangatuna – contribution to garden

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