We have two biodiversity/ environmental funds available to encourage and support landowners, members of the community and groups to enhance and restore our district's native biodiversity.
Biodiversity Contestable Fund
| The Biodiversity Contestable Fund is now taking applications. Please read the below information and complete the application form. Applications close 30 November 2024. |
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The purpose of the fund is to support people with the protection, maintenance and restoration of indigenous biodiversity.
First priority will be given to work protecting and restoring significant natural areas (SNA) listed in the District Plan (DP) and establishment costs for conservation covenants or establishing covenants. Remaining funds will be allocated to projects restoring nature outside significant natural areas.
The fund is a contestable fund which is assessed and approved twice a year by the Council’s District Planning and Regulation Committee. Council staff, with expert advice where necessary, will make recommendations to the Committee.
There is a variable amount available in this Fund, it will be distributed among the successful applicants. If there are no other applications or appropriate projects, the fund may not necessarily be distributed either in whole or in part.
Who Can Apply?
The fund is open to individuals or groups for projects protecting, maintaining, restoring, or recreating areas of significant indigenous biodiversity in the Waimakariri District.
The Fund is not available:
(i) For work that there is a legal obligation to do;
(ii) To compensate for work already done. It is intended to assist with the cost of future work; and
(iii) For beautification projects, or to support those driven primarily for financial gain.
Funding Criteria
Applications will be assessed on merit based on criteria listed below:
- Representativeness: Does the project/activity support biodiversity which is representative, typical or characteristic of the area?
- Rarity/Distinctness: Does the project/activity include species which are rare, listed as threatened or those which are at the distribution limit, of restrictive occurrence or rare ecosystem (see DP for description)?
- Connectivity: Will the project/activity provide or support linkages for species to other important habitats in the area?
- Protection: Is the area protected from future development and degradation (i.e. covenanted, mapped as an SNA)? Is the landowner willing to protect the plantings through a management agreement?
- Size: Does the project site cover an area larger than 0.1ha?
- Partnerships and Collaborations: Does the project involve a collaboration of interested organisations,
stakeholders and communities?
How to Apply
The Biodiversity Contestable Fund will be open for applications twice per year and funding rounds will be advertised. Applications can be made via the Biodiversity Contestable Fund Application Form.
Biodiversity Contestable Fund - Community Organisations
| The Biodiversity Contestable Fund - Community Organisations is now taking applications. Please read the below information and complete the application form. Applications close 30 November 2024. |
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The purpose of the fund is to make available financial assistance to community organisations working to protect indigenous biodiversity in the Waimakariri District, particularly for freshwater and estuarine ecosystems. The fund was established as a recommendation from the Waimakariri Water Zone Committee (Zone Implementation Programme Addendum Recommendation 2.8) which is a joint committee of Waimakariri District Council and Environment Canterbury for implementation of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.
The fund is a contestable fund which is assessed and approved once a year (when funds are available for allocation) by the Council’s Utilities and Roading Committee. Council staff, with expert advice where necessary, will make recommendations to the Committee.
There is $20,000 per year (excluding GST) available in the Biodiversity Contestable Fund – Community Organisations pool. It will be distributed among the successful applicants. If there are no applications the fund may not necessarily be distributed either in whole or in part.
Funding is able to be used for operational costs, such as wages and overheads, or for one-off costs such as events or specific projects.
Who Can Apply?
The Fund is open only to community organisations working in the Waimakariri District.
The Fund is not available:
(i) For work that there is a legal obligation to do;
(ii) To compensate for work already done. It is intended to assist with the cost of future work; and
(iii) For beautification projects, or to support those driven primarily for financial gain.
Funding Criteria
Criteria for the allocation of the budget are:
- The community organisation must be a legal entity, such as an incorporated society or charitable trust.
- The organisational vision and proposed projects must align with the Waimakariri Water Zone Committee Action Plan 2021–24 or subsequent action plans, and the Waimakariri Natural Environment Strategy Strategic Directions 1–4.
- The community organisation must have the ability to coordinate an overarching vision and discussion opportunities for the Waimakariri District community.
- The community organisation must be able to provide community engagement support.
- The community organisation must provide community education and advice to Waimakariri District landowners for indigenous biodiversity projects.
Applicants are able to apply for multi-year funding of up to a maximum of three years. This allows for longer-term planning and retention of staff by community organisations. However, note this may result in full allocation of the budget, with no funding round(s) in some years.
How to Apply
Applications will be accepted during the funding round and funding rounds will be advertised. Applications can be made via the Biodiversity Contestable Fund - Community Organisations Application Form.