Environment Fund

What is the Environment Fund?
Who can apply?
What projects are eligible?
How are applications assessed?
How do I apply?
Application form and guidelines
Application closing date
Help is available

What is the Environment Fund?

The 2008 Environment Fund opens on 1 May 2008.

The Northland Regional Council Environment Fund has provided over $2 million to help people improve and protect Northland’s natural environment since 1996.

This year, the contestable Fund is about $500,000. The Regional Council recognises the effort and commitment that Northlanders are putting into improving native biodiversity and the increase in funding reflects this. The fund is targeted at several different areas with most projects funded at 50% of their total costs.

Financial assistance is available for fencing to protect native bush.

Projects must be of long-term benefit to the local environment and show evidence of good resource management. Examples of previously funded projects include protecting native bush and wetlands by fencing out stock, replanting streamsides, dune management and pest control to enhance native habitat.

Projects designed for personal or commercial profit, required under resource consent or simply beautify a site, are not eligible for funding. Funding is not retrospective – the Regional Council will not pay for work done before funding is approved.

Who can apply?

The Environment Fund is open to individuals and voluntary groups for eligible projects on private land. Landowners, community and conservation organisations, local Māori groups and schools have all successfully applied to the Environment Fund.

What projects are eligible for funding?

If you think that your project is going to take more than one year to complete, you now have the option of applying for up to three years of funding.

GENERAL PROJECTS
Projects that restore and protect native habitats such as streamsides, remnant forest, shrubland and coastal margins. Some ways of achieving this are by:

Excluding stock from native bush and replanting native plants
Controlling animal and plant pests

WETLAND PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS
Projects that enhance, protect or restore natural wetlands.

PEST ANIMAL AND PLANT CONTROL PROJECTS
Projects that protect habitat for native flora and fauna by removing environmental pest plants and animals. This is on land outside of Council’s Community Control Area Programme. A list of the pests is provided in the Environment Fund Guidelines.

REVEGETATION AND ENHANCEMENT WITH NATIVE PLANTS
This section of the Fund has been sponsored by the Honda New Zealand Tree Fund which provides funding for the planting of native trees for revegetation, enhancement, erosion control, shelter and streamside enhancement.

COASTAL DUNE ENHANCEMENT AND PROTECTION
Projects that help prevent erosion, restore natural character and provide public benefit. Types of dune protection work that may be covered include; revegetation by native plants, fencing, enhancing and creating appropriate accessways, signage, pest control and education work.

STOCK EXCLUSION FROM COASTAL MARINE (TIDAL) AREA
This area of the Fund is to support rules in the Northland Regional Council's Regional Coastal Plan that require stock to be excluded from tidal areas (deadline is mid-2009). If the area to be fenced includes significant bush or wetland areas. It may be funded at a higher grant rate. This can be discussed with Land Management staff during a site visit.

NOTE: The Environment Fund can contribute up to 50% of the total project cost. The applicant must be able to provide the remainder of the cost with time, cash costs, other funding or in-kind contributions such as voluntary labour and donated materials. Most grants are between $500 and $5000. No more than $30,000 of the Environment Fund can be allocated to one project in any one year.

How are applications assessed?

More than 170 applications are made to the Environment Fund every year. More funds are requested than are available! To ensure fairness and transparency, a system of assessment is used to choose which projects are funded.

All applicants are visited by Northland Regional Council staff to assess details of a proposed projects before a decision is made. A special Sub-Committee of Regional Councillors shortlist applications based on the expected benefits to the environment and the quality and completeness of the application.

Successful applications are presented to a full Council meeting for acceptance, after which all applicants are notified of the decisions. Funding decisions made by the Northland Regional Council are final, with no rights of appeal or review.

Successful applicants will be notified the result of their application by Monday 30 October 2008.

Planting at Ocean Beach was made possible thanks to the Honda Tree Fund, part of the Regional Council's Environment Fund.

How do I apply?

It’s easy! Answer the questions on the application form as fully as possible. Fill in the boxes, or write/type your answers on separate paper. Remember to attach extra information (quotes, photos, letters of support, etc) to make your project’s details as clear as possible. Application forms are available from the Northland Regional Council or can be downloaded below.

Please ensure you:

Read the questions carefully.
Answer all questions on the application form provided.
You must fill out the application form even if you include attachments.
Please use black pen to complete your form as the application will be photocopied.
Supply all information requested, including attachments.
Keep a copy of the entire application for your records.

If you are unsure of anything when filling out the form, please contact the Northland Regional Council for assistance.

Application form and guidelines

View online
You can view or download a copy of the 2008 Environment Fund application form and guidelines by clicking on the links below.

Download 2008 Environment Fund Guidelines (207 KB)

Download 2008 Environment Fund Application Form for projects under $2000 (90 KB)

Download 2008 Environment Fund Application Form for projects over $2000 (104 KB)

Download word version of Application Form for projects under $2000 (208 KB)

Download word version of Application Form for projects over $2000 (250 KB)

Application closing date

The 2008 round opens on 1 May 2008 and closes at 5.00pm, Friday 18 July 2008.

The application must be with the Northland Regional Council by this date to be eligible for funding. Late applications will not be considered. There will be no exceptions.

Send your Environment Fund application to:

    2008 Environment Fund Application
    Northland Regional Council
    Private Bag 9021
    WHANGAREI 0140

You can also hand deliver your application to any Northland Regional Council office.

Help is available

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Land Management team at the Northland Regional Council in Whangarei or Kaitaia. The team is happy to assist with completing your application.

Whangarei Head Office
Phone: (09) 438 4639 (freephone 0800 002 004)

Kathy Mortimer (Fund Administrator – general enquiries)
Stefan Seitzer (general enquiries)
Debbie Johnson (general enquiries)
Vincent Lane (general and stock exclusion enquiries)
Lisa Forester (general and wetland enquiries)
Don McKenzie (plant and animal pest enquiries)
Laura Shaft (coastal dune enquiries)

Kaitaia Regional Office
Phone: (09) 408 1451

Peter Wiessing (general enquiries)

Your Council