Environmental projects see funding bump for Christchurch West Melton
Five progressive environmental projects are to receive a combined total of $50,000 in funding from the Christchurch West Melton Water Zone Committee this year.
We allocate funding annually for water zone committees to recommend support for community-led initiatives that aim to improve the environment and help meet Canterbury Water Management Strategy objectives.
Each committee outlined its steps for meeting these targets in an Action Plan for 2021-2024.
The Christchurch West Melton Water Zone Committee Action Plan addresses environmental harm in three broad categories:
- he tangata/the people, mahi tahi/partnership and engagement
- he huringa āhaurangi/a changing climate
- he whenua ora/a living environment.
“One of the pleasures of being on the Water Zone Committee is hearing from groups about the on-the-ground projects that they are facilitating to actively improve the quality of our waterways,” said Brynlea Stocks, Christchurch West Melton Water Zone Committee Chair.
“It's inspiring to see the dedication and passion that they bring to these projects. The committee is eager to continue to work alongside these groups to make a real difference for future generations.”
Projects being funded
In River Clean – Avon Ōtākaro Network
Amount granted: $15,000.
The purpose of this project is to gather baseline data on rubbish collected from the Ōtākaro/Avon River and document the positive effects that clean-up efforts are having on the coastline and estuary. The group organises at least one river clean-up day per month and will post data to their website and social media.
Stormwater Superhero Trailer – Christchurch Envirohub Trust
Amount granted: $7,500
The Stormwater Superhero Trailer provides engaging, current, and practical education for all age groups to help improve the quality of our urban waterways in greater Christchurch. This funding will go towards engagement events, educational collateral, and behaviour change research.
Te Tuna Tāone Action Education Programme – Christchurch Envirohub Trust
Amount granted: $12,500
Te Tuna Tāone empowers ākonga/students to take action to improve the health of the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem for urban longfin tuna in their catchment. Their mahi aims to mitigate the impact of climatic changes on longfin tuna, within their community. Funding will go towards classroom and streamside-based education sessions, evaluating stream monitoring results, and implementing action to protect longfin tuna.
Nature Agents – EOS Ecology Ltd
Amount granted: $10,000
Nature Agents encourages ākonga/students to become environmental investigators in their local awa/river and get them excited about STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). They learn basic scientific monitoring skills during three-hour-long sessions, and local scientists equip schools with monitoring kits for ongoing learning opportunities. This funding will go towards expanding the number of schools that participate in the programme.
Horotane Valley Reforestation – Summit Road Society
Amount granted: $5,000
This work focuses on fencing a planting area in the Horotane Valley that aims to enhance biodiversity, reduce greenhouse gases, and improve water management. The fencing will allow the group to keep out grazing animals and plant more native species of trees.
Enhancing biodiversity, recreation and ecosystem health
The enhancement of ecosystem health, indigenous biodiversity, and recreation is at the heart of action on the ground. See some of the current projects.
Each of the region's water zone committees has an action plan which outlines how they will work with the community to help improve the environment and meet Canterbury Water Management Strategy objectives. These committees are presently undergoing a review and no further applications are being sought until further notice.