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Our Council, Our Region

Funding checklist and other information

ECO Fund checklist - are you eligible?

Funding is available for groups in the Otago region who is working on projects that will protect, enhance or promote the environment, including:

  • Community groups
  • Iwi/hapu
  • Incorporated societies
  • Community trusts
  • Resident and ratepayer groups
  • Landowner groups
  • Educational institutes

Projects must engage or involve the community.

Applications for Incentives Funding -- Biodiversity enhancement on protected private land can be from individual landowners and do not need to engage or involve the community.

The ECO Fund is available for projects that protect and/or enhance the environment.

ORC strategic priorities are guided by the Long-Term Plan 2021-2031 must-do projects for Land, Water and Biodiversity and relevant documents such as:

  • ORC Biosecurity Strategy 2019
  • ORC Biodiversity Strategy 2018
  • Urban Water Quality Strategy 2017
  • Rural Water Quality Strategy 2011

Priority projects could include:

  • Biodiversity (e.g. regeneration or planting of native vegetation)
  • Biosecurity (e.g. pest plant or animal management)
  • Water quality (e.g. riparian planting or wetland restoration)

The types of activities the ECO Fund can be used for includes:

  • on-ground works
  • education and capacity building
  • awareness raising
  • administrative support (up to 50% of the cost)

Funding is available for projects up to 3 years.

Funding is capped at $50,000 total for any project for:

  • ECO Fund
  • Incentives Funding – Sustained rabbit management

Funding is capped at $15,000 total for any project for:

  • Incentives Funding – Native planting after plant pest control
  • Incentives Funding – Native planting for water quality
  • Incentives Funding – Biodiversity enhancement on protected private land

The ECO Fund does not provide funding for:

    • individuals
    • government agencies or territorial authorities
    • commercial or private gain
    • projects created to comply with Resource Consent conditions
    • responses to any actual or potential enforcement action
    • the purpose of seed capital
    • maintenance for existing projects
    • retrospective costs

Applicants can only submit one application per funding round.

This fund supports coordinated community-led rabbit management throughout Otago. It aims to provide community groups, or groups of neighbours working collaboratively, with an opportunity to lead the improvement of rabbit management in their area.

Funding is available for:

  • Groups of landowners (five or more adjacent landholdings)
  • Non-profit community organisations e.g., community association, charitable trust, incorporated society
  • Individual properties with the following status:
  • Māori customary land
  • Māori freehold land
  • Crown land reserved for Māori
  • General land within the boundary of an original native reserve, if that land is still owned or partly owned by Māori

Funding is not available for:

  • Individuals or work on individual properties (unless operating collaboratively with neighbours or as a community)
  • Territorial authorities or government agencies
  • Rabbit control costs

Examples of community led approaches eligible for funding

Note that priority will be given to facilitating community groups or groups of neighbours working collaboratively over fencing costs.

Working together

  • Forming a community group to coordinate rabbit management in your area
  • Forming a community group to collect landowner contributions for collective rabbit management
  • Developing collaborative long-term rabbit management plans / community action plan
  • Forming new partnerships with other groups including community, government agencies, school groups, absentee landholders, landcare groups and mana whenua groups

Building and sharing skills and knowledge

  • Building community capacity for best practice rabbit management techniques, e.g., hosting community workshops, training in best practice, hosting expert guests.
  • Raising awareness of your programme via media, e.g. You Tube clips, webinars
  • Show casing community groups participating in best practice rabbit management
  • Producing advertising material to promote your community plan
  • Designing rabbit management signage for your local area

Rabbit exclusion costs

  • Newly created groups (within first year) implementing long-term rabbit exclusion i.e., fencing across multiple properties (number of properties required will depend on local context)

Innovation

  • Trialling new techniques to inform best practice rabbit management
  • Trialling creative new community engagement / collaboration ideas

Monitoring

  • Developing a citizen science programme to monitor rabbit numbers in your area
  • Developing tools to monitor and map rabbit densities in your area
  • Collecting data to assist with local area rabbit management planning

This fund supports landowners in Otago that have been proactive in protecting indigenous biodiversity values on their land to maintain or enhance those values.

Applications for this fund can be from individual landowners and do not need to engage or involve the community.

For the purposes of this fund, protected private land is defined as land not in public ownership i.e., freehold and/or Māori-owned land.

Protected private land could include covenants e.g. QEII covenants or Ngā Whenua Rāhui (NWR) kawenata; and/or and Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) or Regionally Significant Wetlands scheduled in District or Regional Plans.

For clarity, it does not include Public Conservation Land, council reserves, LINZ-administered land e.g., Crown Pastoral Lease, or Pamu (Landcorp).

General

  • Projects must meet the objectives of the ECO Fund and align with at least one ORC strategic priority to eligible. Note that projects for Incentives Funding – Biodiversity enhancement on protected private land do not need to meet the objective for enabling community driven environmental activities.
  • Except for multi-year projects, projects must be completed within 12 months of receiving funding.
  • All applications for each round are assessed and ranked against the ECO Fund assessment criteria (link to criteria to be provided).
  • All funding is GST exclusive. All financial information provided in an application must be exclusive of GST.
  • The ECO fund supports both one-off projects and those running over multiple years for up to 3 years. For multiple year funding, funds will be released annually conditional upon appropriate project reports which demonstrate meaningful progress being submitted.
  • Successful applicants must agree to Otago Regional Council promoting their project.
  • Applicants must have completed accountability (final) reports for any previous ECO Fund grants received to be eligible for funding.
  • If work funded is not completed within the specified time frame or funds are not spent as agreed, Otago Regional Council reserves the right to demand the return of funds.
  • The ECO Fund does not provide funding for:
    • commercial or private gain
    • government organisations
    • projects created to comply with Resource Consent conditions
    • responses to any actual or potential enforcement action (excluding projects under the sustained rabbit control programme)
    • the purpose of seed capital
    • individuals
    • maintenance for existing projects
    • retrospective costs

     

    Applications

    • Applicants can only submit one application per funding round.
    • Projects must have a defined start and finish date.
    • Applicants must disclose any other funding they have applied for or received for their project.
    • Funding is capped per project and applicant at $50,000 for ECO Fund and Incentives Funding - Sustained rabbit management; and $15,000 for Incentives Funding - Native planting after plant pest removal, Native planting for water quality, and Biodiversity enhancement of protected private land.
    • If funding is requested for salary costs, only 50% will be funded. Applicants need to demonstrate that requested salary funding is not more than 50% of total cost, and detail where the additional funding will come from e.g., applicant 50% contribution to salary could be from other grants, existing group funds, or existing staff capacity or volunteer contributions allocated to the same project position.

     

    Assessment

    • All applications are assessed and ranked against the ECO Fund assessment criteria.
    • Applicants agree to be available (if requested) for a phone call and/or site visit with ORC staff as part of the assessment process at a day and time suitable to the applicant.
    • If an applicant is unsuccessful in one round of the ECO Fund, they may apply again in a subsequent funding round.
    • Decisions made by Otago Regional Council are final and are made at our sole discretion.
    • Applicants may not speak to their applications at the Council meetings or approach representatives on Council to speak on their behalf.

     

    Decision and Grant

    • Successful applicants must accept the grant by signing an acceptance letter and funding agreement.
    • Recipients must pay all costs associated with the project. ECO Fund grants will be transferred to recipients’ nominated bank accounts.
    • Nominated bank accounts cannot be private accounts; it must be an account in the name of the applicant. Grant funds will not be paid into individuals bank accounts, corporate bank accounts or another groups bank accounts on behalf.
    • Successful applicants must agree to report on the project outcomes to ORC within a specified timeframe, and account for how funds were spent. Successful applicants must agree to submit progress reports, where applicable, and a final report on the project outcomes to ORC within a specified timeframe, and account for how funds were spent.
    • Successful applicants agree to report on their project at a council meeting, if requested.
    • Funds granted expire 6 months after Council approval. If the applicant fails to comply with the Otago Regional Council’s terms and conditions within 6 months (unless otherwise agreed), the funding lapses.
    • Grants are approved subject to the Otago Regional Council being satisfied that the information given by recipients is true and correct. Otago Regional Council reserves the right to refuse grant funding, and/or request return of grant funding where it determines that it has been misled, that the applicant or recipient has omitted relevant information, or if the recipient enters into receivership, liquidation or ceases to exist (e.g., removed from register).

 

Additional information

Often community and catchment groups and individuals are involved in environmental enhancement projects such as wetland restorations, fencing of water ways, riparian planting or creating walkways for their communities.

Parts of these projects may require resource consents from us.

If your project requires resource consents then your project may qualify for funding of the consent application processing costs.

Find out more about consent information.

This funding does not currently cover flood protection bylaw fees.

Examples of projects previously funded by the ECO Fund.

If you think your application meets our criteria or if you have any questions, please get in touch with our team by emailing ecofund@orc.govt.nz to discuss your idea further and for advice on your application.

“In addition to the general ECO Fund pool of $328,000 there is funding available for specific Incentives Funding for the 2023 funding round. These include:

Sustained rabbit management

$150,000 to support groups of landowners to better manage rabbit populations over the long term. Further information on this funding can be found under the “Rabbit management additional criteria” tab above.

Native planting for water quality

$30,000 for planting native vegetation to improve areas of declining water quality. For example, riparian revegetation projects to address nutrient runoff or sedimentation of waterways. Information about areas of declining water quality can be found in the ORC’s State and Trends of River and Lake Water Quality Report.

Native planting after plant pest control

$30,000 for native planting after removal of wilding pines and other tree or shrub plant Pests and Organisms of Interest listed in the Regional Pest Management Plan 2019-2029 to restore and enhance indigenous biodiversity. Priority will be given to listed pests that form dense canopies and re-invade quickly post-control such as gorse, broom and sycamore.

Biodiversity enhancement on protected private land

$30,000 to support landowners with protected private land to maintain and enhance indigenous biodiversity.

Further information on this funding can be found under the “Protected private land additional criteria”.

Your application will be assessed by an assessment panel using the assessment criteria below.

Criteria

Scoring and guidance

Project objectives are realistic, and actions are likely to achieve the objectives
  • Setting a clear project objective helps track the success of the project. Objectives should be realistic and able to be achieved within the timeframe of the project.
  • The project should also outline what actions will be undertaken to achieve the objective. There should be a clear linkage between the action and the intended outcome.
  • Consider overall group objectives and assess specific project actions in application in terms of contribution to that overall group objective / vision.
  • Projects that are implementing existing catchment group plans could be considered as higher scoring.

4 = Objectives are realistic and highly likely to be achieved within the timeframe. Obvious links between actions and objectives

3 = Objectives are realistic and likely to be achieved within the timeframe. Some linkage between the actions and objectives

2 = Objectives could be achievable, but project planning does not clearly demonstrate how proposed actions will lead to objectives

1 = Objectives are limited, and actions are not linked to the project objectives and unlikely to be achieved within the timeframe

0 = Objectives are unrealistic, irrelevant or unachievable.

Project is technically sound
  • The likelihood of a successful project is increased when the applicants are well informed or experts in the area.
  • Projects should demonstrate that the planned approach is technically feasible and reflects best management practice.
  • This could be through the expertise of the project applicants or through information they have sought and intend on implementing

4 = Proponent has sought appropriate advice and/ or have the relevant expertise. Best practice is clearly being proposed.
3 = Proponent has sought some advice and/ or has some relevant experience. Best practice is mostly being proposed.
2 = Proponent has sought some advice and/ or has some relevant experience. Best practice is not being proposed or is not clear.
1 = Proponent has not demonstrated advice was sought or what relevant experience is being utilised. Best practice is not being proposed or is not clear.
0 = Best practice is not being implemented and proposed techniques are questionable.

Impact of the project - scale

The impact a project can have can be assessed by:

  • Scale, how effective and far reaching will the project outcomes be
  • Longevity, how enduring will the project outcomes be
  • Intervention level, is the project addressing the cause or symptom of a problem

4 = Significant environmental benefits at a district or regional scale.
3 = Moderate environmental benefits at multi-site or local scale.
2 = Benefits are site scale.
1 = Benefits are likely but are indirect and/or intangible.
0 = No clear benefits to the environment.
.

Impact of the project - timeframe

The impact a project can have can be assessed by:

Scale, how effective and far reaching will the project outcomes be

Longevity, how enduring will the project outcomes be

Intervention level, is the project addressing the cause or symptom of a problem

4 = Environmental benefits for long-term. (20+ years)
3 = Environmental benefits medium-term (6-20 years).
2 = Environmental benefits short-term (<5 years).
1 = Benefits are likely but are indirect and/or intangible and timeframes are difficult to assess.
0 = No clear benefits to the environment over any timeframe.

Special site values

Projects that protect or enhance sites with special environmental values add value to the outcomes ECO Fund is seeking. Special site values could include:

  • At-risk or threatened species,
  • Rare or much reduced-ecosystem types.
  • Important or distinctive habitat types.

2 = Project involves both at-risk or threatened species and important ecosystem or habitat types.
1 = Project involves either at-risk or threatened species, or important ecosystem or habitat types.
0 = Project involves common species and/or ecosystem or habitat types.

Level of community engagement

A key objective for the ECO Fund is community involvement. This criterion assesses how much community involvement is being proposed and how far reaching that involvement may be.

4 = Project is led by a community group and engages with other members of the community.
3 = Project is led and implemented by a community group with some community engagement.
2 = Not led by community but involves community in the implementation
1 = No community groups involved but outcomes will benefit or be utilised by the community.
0 = No community involvement or benefit.

Value for money
  • Considering any level of investment contributed by the applicant, that is, their level of investment is a good measure for value for money.
  • See Funding Details section in application.
  • Applicant investment can include in-kind contributions such as labour or volunteer hours ($20 per hour minimum), monetary input from the group itself or project partners.
  • However, contributions from other grants are not considered applicant’s investment and should not be used to leverage funding.

4 = Project is more than 1:1 cost sharing between fund requested and fund contributed
3 = Project is 1:1 (or within 5%) cost sharing
2 = Project is 1:2 applicant vs ECO Fund requested
1 = Project has some applicant contribution but not clear or costed
0 = Project relies solely on ECO Fund and/or other grants

New applicants
  • It is good to encourage new applicants to access funding.
  • However, previous applicants are also typically involved in good works and maintaining momentum can be good.
  • Some previous successful applicants may not have completed all previous commitments, e.g., reporting

2 = New applicant or previously unsuccessful applicant to the ECO Fund (with eligible project)
1 = Previous successful applicants with all requirements completed on time
0 = Previous successful applicant with outstanding reports or other commitments
Other funding

 
  • ECO Fund has many repeat applicants and some with significant other funding to achieve their objectives, enabling them to commit resources to applying for additional funding.
  • Community groups without significant additional funding should receive a boost to their score to encourage new groups, new projects and a diversity and spread of ECO Fund projects.

2 = Community group has no other significant funding sources (total <$100k)
1 = Community group has other significant funding sources (total >$500K) $100-$500k)
0 = Community group has other significant funding sources (total >$500k)​

 

 

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