Three local Dunedin conservation groups have today been announced as the inaugural recipients of the Speight’s Environment Fund.
A total of $17,102 has been awarded to the Hawksbury Logoon Inc, Dunedin Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society and Orokonui Eco-Sanctuary to assist with their ongoing improvement, maintenance and protection of our natural environment.
Hawksbury Lagoon Inc are planning to use the money to revegetate the area by planting 3,500 Raupo in protected areas within the lagoon while The Orokonui Eco-Sanctuary is also planning to put its funding towards a re-planting project that aims to contribute to the survival of the takahe species now listed as nationally critical and endangered.
The Dunedin Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society will put their grant towards three sets of audio attraction equipment to assist in re-establishing seabird colonies on the St Clair Cliffs, Long Point and other sites along the Otago Peninsula.
Seven applications were received for the $25,000 grant but due to failure to fully meet the judging criteria, the judges decided to withhold the remaining $7898 dollars to be added to next year’s grant.
Convenor of Judges, Stu McIntosh said the judges were very impressed with the quality of the applications received and are eager to watch the Fund grow and develop over time.
“It is exciting to see so many great environmental projects underway in the Dunedin area and even better to be able to support some of these with extra funding to help them keep up their great work.”
The Fund is judged and administered by a panel of 5 independent judges who include Mayor Peter Chin, Professor Carolyn Burns from the Zoology Department at Otago University, prominent local businessman Stuart McLachlan, Dunedin regional councillor Gretchen Robertson and NHNZ Managing Director Michael Stedman.
The Speight’s Brewery Environment Fund was launched on August 20, 2009 and offers not-for-profit groups an annual fund to which they can apply for financial support for projects that aim to protect and preserve Dunedin’s precious natural environment.
The fund is made up of a $25,000 a year donation from Speight’s plus all donations received for water taken from the spring-water tap at the Speight’s Brewery and money made from the sale of reusable water bottles at the Speight’s Heritage Tour store.
A total of 1 million litres of water is drawn from the brewery’s spring at the Rattray St tap each year. If Dunedin people donate just 10c per litre this would see an extra $100,000 a year being made available to local conservation groups. To date, $1300 has been donated via the tap and this money will be added to the 2010 grant.
The next round of applications for the Speight’s Environment Fund opens on 22 March 2010 and closes on 16 April 2010. Grants will be announced on June 6
th 2010. Full details are available on the Speight’s Environment Fund website –
www.speight’sfund.co.nz.
The three winning groups of the 2009 Speight’s Environment Fund grant will be formally recognized at a function later in the month – more details to follow shortly.
For more information on the Hawksbury Lagoon Inc project please contact Shirley McKewen on 03 465 7499
For more information on the Dunedin Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society please contact Mark Hanger on 03 489 3233
For more information on the Orokonui Eco-Sanctuary please contact Chris Ballie on 03 482 1755