Three environmental projects in Waitākere are among the first recipients of Auckland Council's Regional Environment and Natural Heritage Grant.
KareKare Landcare, Community Waitākere and Protect Piha Heritage have received $8000, $5000 and $30,000 respectively to help with their projects that enhance, restore and protect Auckland’s natural environment.
Diverse environmental needs
Waitākere Ward Councillors Linda Cooper and Shane Henderson were delighted with the grant awards.
“Part of the role of the Council’s Environment and Climate Change Committee is to ensure that we can help our communities to care for the environment”, says Councillor Cooper.
“I’m really pleased that we have been able to fund these west focussed projects along with the other successful ones and I would love to see more Waitākere groups apply next year.”
Councillor Henderson agrees. “Amongst Auckland’s wide-ranging and diverse environment, the west has some really motivated and passionate people who are working to protect and enhance the environment where they live.
“This funding will play an important role for local organisations and community groups to deliver on the great work they are already doing.”
Funding use
The funding for KareKare Landcare will be used to help purchase traps, bait, pest monitoring equipment as well as helping to purchase a shed and develop a website. It’s part of a project that will support, resource and expand the great pest animal and plant control projects in Karekare.
Community Waitākere will utilise the funding for its Harbourview – Orangihina Robust Predators and Weeds Monitoring Biodiversity Recovery Project, which includes monitoring for predators and weeds, habitat change, native biodiversity and ecological recovery.
Protect Piha heritage aims to have Piha free of invasive weeds and predators by 2025 via integrated best practice pest animal and pest plant management programmes. The funding will go towards the project’s operations manager role.
