Friday 14 May 2010

Biodiversity funding approved for wetlands

Clutha District Council has granted the Lake Waihola Waipori Wetlands Society (LWWWS) $10,000 over two years from its new Biodiversity Fund for the purpose of weed control in the wetlands.

Planning and Environment Manager Murray Brass said that as part of the District Plan Review process, Council had last year decided to set aside $15,000 each year for funding to support voluntary biodiversity protection and enhancement measures.

This recognises the fact that in some cases voluntary measures can do more good for biodiversity than rules and regulations in the District Plan, he said.

LWWWS, in collaboration with the local community, landowners, key stakeholders and agencies, has developed a comprehensive weed management plan for the wetlands which it plans to implement over the next three years. The Society plans to contract a part-time coordinator/facilitator over the first two years to both implement the weed control programme and educate the local community, farmers, stakeholders etc about weed identification and control methods to encourage the long term control of invasive weeds.

The Society has applied to various agencies for a total of $298,000 for the project, and had received confirmation of about half that amount to date.

Councillors unanimously supported the Society’s application to Council for $6,000 from the Biodiversity Fund this financial year and a further $4,000 in 2010/11, with Cr Bruce McCorkindale describing the Wetlands as “one of the real jewels in the crown” of the Clutha District.

Mr Brass said the application from LWWWS was the first received for the Council’s Biodiversity Fund to date. However, he expects further applications will be made shortly, with a number of possible projects raised at a recent stakeholders’ meeting.

ENDS

Lake Waihola/Waipori Wetlands