Tuesday 11 February 2025
Applications open for a month on 1 March for ORC’s annual ECO Fund — with more than $1 million available for the first time — for projects across Otago which protect, enhance, or promote the environment.
The overall funding has increased from $918,000 last year to a total $1.05 million this year spread across six categories and is open to a wide range of applicants.
ORC’s Chair of the ECO Fund Assessment Panel, Alan Somerville, says he’s “delighted” this year’s fund will shortly be opened, highlighting every year has been oversubscribed and people should contact ORC staff from now for advice on applying.
“The ECO Fund has been enabling community-led environmental projects around Otago since 2018,” he says.
“It’s the communities who know what matters most locally and these funding programmes can empower them to turn those great ideas into action.”
“We’ve made some changes to the fund processes which should make applying clearer and easier for applicants to navigate. As always, it's a very good plan to speak to council staff early about your project before lodging your application,” he says.
To assist applicants, ORC is running a webinar on 25 February and ORC staff are also part of in-person funding clinics across the region for applicants (details below), being run by the Otago Community Trust.
The funding programmes underpin the ORC’s partnership with local communities throughout Otago to improve the environment, which under the different categories can include on-ground works, biodiversity enhancement, water quality improvement, animal or plant pest control, native planting and regeneration, education, or administrative support.
ORC’s Manager Environmental Implementation Libby Caldwell says the work which can now be undertaken from this funding programme is a great example of the ORC working in partnership with local communities throughout Otago.
“These programmes enable communities to either take first steps to begin a new project, or continue and enlarge existing projects, to improve the state of the environment across numerous types of needs,” Mrs Caldwell says.
Within the six categories, there is funding for projects up to $15,000, $50,000 and $150,000.
|
Funding category |
Budget |
|
Large scale biodiversity projects |
$450,000 |
|
General (on-ground and education) |
$309,500 |
|
Biodiversity enhancement on protected private land |
$100,000 |
|
Sustained rabbit management |
$100,000 |
|
Critical source area management on private land |
$ 50,000 |
|
Weed removal and revegetation |
$ 50,000 |
|
TOTAL |
$1,059,500 |
Over the past 10 rounds of ECO Fund since mid-2018, a total $7.58 million was applied for, with a total 166 applicants (from 351) successful, with a total $2.58 million distributed.
Mrs Caldwell highlighted that on average, each of the earlier 10 rounds was oversubscribed by about 300% and urged people to contact staff now for assistance in determining their needs and eligibility.
She says those who applied to the ECO fund last year will only see minor changes to the application form, and they can view an example of a completed ECO Fund application form from 2024.
She urges organisations to get in touch with ORC staff on 0800 474 082 or email ecofund@orc.govt.nz if they wish to discuss their project and eligibility as soon as possible so we can help us much as we can.
“Applicants wanting to discuss their project’s eligibility will be able to meet with an ORC Catchment Advisor at one of the following funding clinics, being organised by the Otago Community Trust.”
Otago Community Trust funding clinics, more details soon on the ORC website:
Wednesday, 19 February — Alexandra
Wednesday, 19 February — Cromwell
Thursday, 20 February — Queenstown
Monday, 24 February — Ōamaru
Thursday, 20 March — Mosgiel
You can join our ECO Fund webinar to find out more about the fund - it is held online at 7pm on Tuesday, 25 February 2025.
The webinar will cover:
if you can’t join the webinar, you will be able to watch a recording later on here.
1 March 2025: ECO Fund round opens
31 March 2025: ECO Fund round closes
April – May 2025: Applications are reviewed
June 2025: Applicants are notified of our decision
For 2024, a total 33 environmental projects across Otago were granted a total $854,733 from the annual ECO Fund and Incentives Funding programmes.
Including last year’s 33 recipients, total funds dispersed since mid-2018 is $2.58 million.
Of about $918,000 available last year, a total 65 applicants were initially seeking $2.7 million – about three times oversubscribed — with the 33 successful applicants sharing a total $854,733.
ECO Fund — 10 project recommendations totalling $314,454. Projects include in Dunedin, Central Otago, North Otago, and Upper Lakes.
Incentives Funding — sustained rabbit management, six projects totalling $100,000. Projects include Dunedin, Wanaka, South Otago, and wider Central Otago.
Incentives Funding — native planting after plant pest removal, four projects totalling $35,171. Projects include in Ōamaru, Hāwea, and Central Otago.
Incentives Funding — native plant for water quality, two project recommendations for $11,675. Projects are in North Otago and Wānaka.
Incentives Funding — biodiversity enhancement on protected private land, eight project recommendations totalling $93,433. Projects include in Queenstown, Wānaka, Dunedin and coastal Otago.
Large-scale biodiversity — three project recommendations totalling $300,000. Projects include Upper Lakes, Dunedin and the Catlins.
ECO Fund applications this year close on 31 March.
A staff panel will then review eligibility and score the applications before the Assessment Panel, made up of three ORC Councillors and one mana whenua representative, undertakes their review and scoring.
This panel will next recommend shortlisted applicants at a full Council meeting, which Councillors will vote on.
