Landowners in Franklin wanting to join the fight to improve the area’s waterways can apply to Auckland Council’s Regional Waterway Protection Fund from 29 July.
The fund is open for properties of five hectares or more, for work that aids the protection, restoration or enhancement of riparian margins on a waterway, including streams, seeps, drains, springs, and wetlands.
This year the Taitaia, Ngākarōa, Oria and Papakura stream catchments are being prioritised.
The fund has delivered benefits across the region, with tracts of waterway fencing and planting put in place, board deputy chair and farmer Alan Cole says.
“We have seen improvements in water quality, and the partnerships formed between landowners and volunteers during some planting days and the like have become ongoing.
“That’s invaluable support to landowners and the environment we all want to protect.”
Cole says the board continues to champion conservation throughout the district and the regional fund is an important part of that.
It awards 50 per cent funding for fencing, site preparation and planting, with the property holder having to fund the rest of the work and commit to ongoing maintenance of any assets added. The applicant’s contribution can include volunteer labour and contributions from others.
“We take pride in our natural resources, and we are committed to enhancing, protecting and maintaining our waterways,” Cole says.
Cole has undertaken planting on his own property and says the fund plays a vital role, having been created to encourage landowners to benefit aquatic life in streams and reduce contaminant flow to the Manukau Harbour.
“Landowners are fencing and planting and taking on predator control across Franklin and the fund demonstrates people care about streams and want to pass them on in a better state than they received them in,” he says.
Grants are made to exclude stock from streams, channels, wetlands, overland flow paths, and springs, while there is also funding available to install alternative water supplies if livestock currently drink from the waterway.
Email regionalwpf@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz, or phone 09 890 7140. Inquiries will be taken from the opening day on 29 July to so advisors can help with applications.
Owners who have received funding before are still able to apply, provided the work that was previously funded has been completed.
All applicants should have a site visit from a land advisor to review and assist with the project scope. Contact the programme team and as soon as possible so a land advisor site visit can be arranged.
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