The two programmes are a $10 million fund repurposed from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Billion Trees programme announced in late May and $100m from the Primary Growth Fund as part of the Government’s covid-19 recovery plan.
A Provincial Development Unit spokesman said the funds are designed to create jobs but differ in that the PGF programme also aims to stimulate economic activity while the Billion Trees fund is designed to enhance water catchments.
Both funds are available to catchment groups, Maori trusts, councils and landowners to pay for labour, pest control, fencing, land work and planting.
Rangitikei River Catchment Collective chairman Roger Dalrymple welcomed having access to two lines of funding but says the timing and pressure from the funders to get projects under way was a bit rushed.
The Government is looking for shovel-ready catchment projects to employ people who have lost jobs but also to enhance the environment.
Dalrymple believes that can be achieved but the onset of lambing and calving, wet late-winter ground conditions restricting earthworks, a shortage of plants and missing the planting season are issues.
“We just can’t put a fence up and plant the next day,” he says.
As well as being rushed it feels like it is being pushed from the Government rather than being driven by farmers and landowners.
His group, which represents nine sub-catchments, is applying for funding.
The Pomahaka Water Care Group in West Otago and the Otago South River Care Group also confirmed they are seeking funding.
On May 24 Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced the repurposing of $100m from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) for waterway fencing, riparian planting and stock water reticulation.
A Provincial Development Unit spokesman said the funding is part of the Government’s post covid-19 recovery plan and designed to create jobs.
It comes with three requirements. Projects must create jobs and generate income, be under way within six months and have a high degree of visibility in the community.
“Projects most likely to be approved will create employment outcomes, including working with Ministry for Social Development to employ displaced workers,” he said.
Successful applications must improve water quality and include associated activities such as riparian planting and stock water reticulation, be in regions with the greatest water quality issues, benefit the wider community, have had costs scoped and be able to start within six months.
“A number of applicants are Maori trusts, regional councils and incorporated societies which can organise workers and do the fencing and planting work on behalf of landowners.”
The response to the fund has been positive and the spokesman expects it to be fully subscribed.
“The PDU has received more than 50 applications so far from a range of groups throughout the country.”
Jones sees the funding as making waterway protection achievable.
“Some farmers wish to protect their waterways but find the costs of fencing prohibitive in the short term.”
In late May Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and Jones announced changes to the funding criteria from the Billion Trees programme, freeing up $10m for large-scale planting to enhance waterways at catchment-wide level.
MPI said a key aspect of the fund is that work must follow a catchment plan or strategy and show impact or scale.
“Projects must also align well with catchment group funding criteria, the broader objectives of the Billion Trees Fund and the Government’s response to water quality and ecological outcomes.”
Final funding allocations are under consideration and there have been 37 expressions of interests from catchment groups.
