Projects with an environmental impact could be eligible for some of $900,000 funding Otago Regional Council has on offer this year.

The council’s annual ECO Fund round for community projects opens on March 1, with a 58.4% boost to available funds, which now top $900,000.

The ECO Fund is made up of four Incentives Funds and a one-off “large-scale biodiversity fund” this year – targeting projects in a range of $50,000 - $150,000.

The funding underpins the council’s partnership with local communities throughout Otago to improve the environment which, under the different categories, can include on-ground works, biodiversity enhancement, water monitoring, animal or plant pest control, native planting and regeneration, education, or administrative support.

ORC’s Environmental Implementation manager Libby Caldwell said the addition of the one-off large-scale project fund reflects that the ECO Fund and Incentives Funds have been consistently oversubscribed by more than 100% of the funds available.

“We’re definitely seeing greater interest in community-led projects around Otago and want to foster more of these partnerships which so positively enhance the environment,” she said.

ORC Councillor and ECO Fund chair Alan Somerville said the ECO Fund provides excellent value to Otago communities and the environment, and this year brings the biggest pool of funding since its inception in 2018.

“Communities know what is most important in their own areas, and money from the ECO Fund can enable them to turn their ideas into action,” he said.

Alan said the criteria is broad and covers biodiversity, biosecurity, and improving water quality.

“Last year's funding round included projects to establish a trap library at Taieri Mouth, removal of lupins in the Lindis Pass, plants for riparian planting in South Otago and rabbit fencing at Moeraki and Wanaka.”

The fund can also cover up to 50% of wages costs for project coordinators, he said.

“Local groups across Otago put a huge amount of work into protecting and enhancing the environment. The benefits are boundless.”

While indigenous plants and animals have the chance to thrive with the reduction in pests, current and future generations will live in neighbourhoods with cleaner water, with more native bush and native birds at their back door.

It is a good plan to contact the council to discuss projects before applying for the fund, he said.

“The larger fund this year will be able to support more projects.”

LIbby said 133 projects have received grants, totalling $1.71 million since the fund began.

“The large-scale funding came about from several funding requests made to council through its long term plan and annual plan processes, so we have listened to our community and are providing assistance with getting these large-scale biodiversity projects off the ground and ensuring that how we allocate our funding to projects is fair and contestable.”

She says the biodiversity budget for 2023-24 already included $300,000 for biodiversity outcomes, and the large-scale fund will be easily integrated within the already established ECO Fund system.

“The diversity of the categories has enabled some great community outcomes over the past six years and the aim is to continue this.”

The criteria for the new large-scale biodiversity grants includes that the project must address biodiversity outcomes, be in a range of $50,000 and $150,000 and be completed by June 2025.

The available funds are made up of: ECO Fund general grants - $300,000, incentives targeted at sustained rabbit management - $100,000, incentives targeted at water quality - $50,000, incentives targeted at biodiversity enhancement on protected private land - $100,000, incentives targeted at native planting following pest control - $50,000, and large-scale biodiversity grants - $300,000.

Applications are open for a month, and close in early April, with successful applicants scheduled to be informed in May.

The ECO Fund and other incentives for 2024 funding was adopted through the annual plan and the additional biodiversity grants were confirmed by ORC’s Environmental Implementation Committee in November last year.

Anyone interested in the fund is encouraged to review ECO Fund information on the ORC’s website and to get in touch with the ECO Fund team at ORC to discuss potential applications by emailing [email protected] or calling 0800 474 082.

Last year’s successful applicants

In 2022, the contestable funding available was $470,000 and in 2023 that rose to $568,000.

Last year 32 organisations around Otago were the successful recipients of $536,470 - from both the ORC’s annual ECO Fund and its Incentives Fund.

More than $1.17m was being sought from an initial 49 applications, from the $568,000 funds available.

At the time Libby said the annual oversubscription reflected the need in the community for this important funding stream.

“The work that can now be undertaken from these two funds is a great example of the ORC working in partnership with local communities throughout Otago, to improve the state of the environment across numerous needs.”

Last year’s successful applications came from Dunedin and surrounds, and were spread as far afield as Queenstown, Oamaru, Lake Hawea, the Catlins, Wanaka and South Otago.