• The ECO Fund aims to protect, enhance and promote Otago’s environment.
• The ECO Fund is made up of six funding categories:
  • Scaling up for biodiversity
  • General (on-ground, education, and ex-situ)
  • Sustained rabbit management
  • Biodiversity enhancement on protected private land
  • Hill country erosion management
  • Weed removal and revegetation.
• Funding is capped per project, as follows:
  • $15,000 for ‘biodiversity enhancement on protected private land’, ‘hill country erosion management’, and ‘weed removal and revegetation’ categories.
  • $50,000 for ‘general’ and ‘sustained rabbit management’ categories.
  • $50,000–$150,000 for ‘scaling up for biodiversity’ category.

• Applicants can only submit one application per funding round.
• Both an umbrella organisation and its affiliated groups may submit separate applications, provided the affiliated applicants meet the eligibility criteria for the relevant funding category.
• Applicants cannot submit additional information to support their application once it has been lodged.
• Applicants must disclose any other funding they have applied for or received for their project.
• If an applicant is unsuccessful in one round of the ECO Fund, they may apply again in a subsequent funding round.

• Applications are assessed by the ECO Fund Assessment Panel.
• Applications that do not meet the funding category eligibility criteria are deemed ineligible.
• All eligible applications are assessed and ranked against the ECO Fund assessment criteria for the relevant funding category.
• If an application is not successful in the category it has been applied to, but it meets eligibility criteria for other funding categories, it may be moved by the ECO Fund Assessment Panel to another funding category to increase its chances of funding. It is then reviewed against the assessment criteria of the new funding category.
• There is no obligation for the Otago Regional Council to contact an applicant to request an update for their application to become eligible.
• Assessors can request additional information from applicants if required to make an informed decision on applications.

• Decisions are made by Council, based on recommendations from the ECO Fund Assessment Panel.
• Decisions made by the Otago Regional Council are final and at the sole discretion of Council.
• Applicants may not speak to their applications at Council meetings or approach Council representatives to speak on their behalf.

Grant approval

• Grants are approved subject to the Otago Regional Council being satisfied that the information provided by recipients is true and correct. Otago Regional Council reserves the right to refuse or request the return of grant funding if it determines that it has been misled, relevant information has been omitted, or if the recipient enters receivership, liquidation, or ceases to exist (e.g., is removed from the register).
• A letter of offer and funding agreement will be sent to successful applicants, detailing the general and specific obligations for both parties.

Pre-conditions

• Pre-conditions may be added to a funding agreement. The grant recipient must meet these pre-conditions before being able to claim the funding, which could delay the start of the project.
• Types of pre-conditions include, but are not limited to:
  • Health and safety plans for contractors’ requirements
  • Resource consent or any formal approvals required (e.g., EPA approval for the use of herbicides by waterways)
  • Management agreements or written permissions from landowner(s)
  • Insurance
  • Use of native plants in the project

Obligations of successful applicants

• Obligations and responsibilities of successful applicants include, but are not limited to:
  • Accepting the grant by signing a funding agreement
  • Paying all costs associated with the project
  • Completing the project within the specified timeframe
  • Meeting at least once with ORC staff to discuss progress
  • Submitting progress reports (where applicable) and a final report on project outcomes to ORC within a specified timeframe, accounting for how funds were spent
  • Reporting on their project at a Council meeting, if requested
  • Acknowledging the grant in publications and any media releases related to the project
  • Agreeing to Otago Regional Council promoting their project

Funding timeframes

• Funds granted expire six (6) months after Council approval. If the applicant fails to comply with the relevant terms and conditions of the funding agreement, including any pre-conditions, within six months (unless otherwise agreed), the funding lapses.
• For multi-year funding, funds will be released annually, conditional upon appropriate progress reports being submitted and accepted. The progress report must demonstrate that:
  • Milestones have been met or meaningful progress has been made
  • Funding for the past year has been fully expended, as agreed

Financial requirements

• Applicants must have a bank account, or the ability to establish one. ECO Fund grants will be transferred to a bank account in the name of the applicant. Grant funds will not be paid into individuals’ or corporate bank accounts, unless otherwise agreed with ORC.
• If work funded is not completed within the specified timeframe or funds are not spent as agreed, Otago Regional Council reserves the right to demand the return of funds.