21 July 2000 Media Statement

FUNDING FOR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT PROJECTS

Six South Island and 12 North Island schools have been successful in seeking grants from the NZ Glass Environmental Fund.

ACI Glass Packaging provides $20,000 annually from its glass recycling operations to assist schools with environmental projects.

The Minister for the Environment, Marian Hobbs, endorsed the latest round of approvals describing projects as "stunning" and "superb". They included water sampling of Ashburton River by Ashburton College, a wetlands rehabilitation scheme by Huntly's Te Wharekura O Rakaumangamanga and a scented and vegetable garden and composting operation by Putaruru's Glenshead Kindergarten.

The grants were decided by a committee drawn from the Ministries for the Environment and Economic Development, Wellington College of Education and ACI. Seven applications were declined because they did not provide either detailed cost breakdowns or sufficient student learning outcomes or involvement. These applications often did not reflect strong community partnership, the committee said.

Successful applicants were:
Ashburton College, mid-Canterbury Water sampling of Ashburton River $702.88
Balfour School, Southland Erection of interpretative sign $500
Broad Bay School, Dunedin Composting,worm farm/shredder $500
Ellesmere College, Leeston Study of local farming environment, $1500
Glenshea Kindergarten, Putaruru Scented garden/vege/compost, $861
Hira School, Nelson Sustainable Ecosystem project $890
Kelvin Road School, Papakura Composting $422
Mangakahia Area School, Whangarei Millennium garden project $850
Meadowbank School, Auckland Development of "gully" area $1200
Okains Bay School, Banks Peninsula Propagation of native plants $500
Onslow College, Wellington Waste minimisation project $2160
Opotiki Kindergarten, Opotiki Development of native area $850
Otewa School, Otorohanga Waste management syste, $1120
Riverdale Kindergarten, Palmerston North Construction of raised garden, $850
Riverhills School, Pakuranga Develop native forest area, $1500
Taneatua School, Taneatua Waste minimisation project $813
Te Wharekura O Rakaumangamanga, Huntly Wetlands project $2700
Mt Aspiring College, Wanaka Waste Management project, $2078

Media inquiries:
Trevor Henry, Press Secretary, 025 477 994

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