Projects line up for environment funding

Tuesday 24 August 2004

A variety of projects, from land-care to environmental education, are in line for funding from Environment Bay of Plenty’s $500,000 Environmental Enhancement Fund this year.

The fund, which closed for applications on Friday, has received just over 60 applications from the region’s community groups, individuals, iwi, businesses, schools and district councils.

Last year the fund awarded a total of $900,000 to nearly 50 projects that preserve, enhance or protect the region’s natural or historical character. They included a harbour clean up by divers, pest control to protect native orchids, and a hazardous waste store at Te Maunga transfer station near Mount Maunganui.

Environment Bay of Plenty’s group manager community relations Bruce Fraser says the diverse communities of the Bay of Plenty need to be congratulated for their enthusiasm and commitment to the local environment. “We want to encourage people to actively care for the environment,” he explains, “and the fund is an important way for us to support this work.”

Over the next two months the applications will be evaluated, with allocations announced in Environment Bay of Plenty’s newspaper, the Regional Guardian, in early December.

ENDS