This year the ECO Fund round for community projects received a 58.4% boost to available funds now topping $900,000, says ORC’s Manager Environmental Implementation Libby Caldwell. The addition of a one-off large-scale fund - targeting projects in a range of $50,000 - $150,000 - reflects that the annual ECO Fund and Incentives Funds have been consistently oversubscribed each year by more than 100% of the funds available, she says.

“We’ve definitely started seeing greater interest in community-led projects around Otago and want to foster more of these partnerships which so positively enhance the environment,” she says.

Last year's funding round included projects to establish a trap library at Taieri Mouth, removal of lupins in the Lindis Pass, plants for riparian planting in South Otago and rabbit fencing at Moeraki and Wanaka.

ORC Councillor and Chair of the ECO Fund, Alan Somerville says the larger fund this year will be able to support more projects.

“It's a very good plan to contact the Council to discuss your project before putting your application in,” Cr Somerville says.

Cr Somerville says the criteria is broad and covers biodiversity, biosecurity, and improving water quality, but the fund can also cover up to 50% of wages costs for project coordinators.

Mrs Caldwell says the criteria for the new large scale biodiversity grants includes that the project must address biodiversity outcomes, be in a range of $50,000 and $150,000 and be completed by June 2025.

Last year’s applications came from across Otago; with successful applications around Dunedin environs, around Queenstown and the rest as far afield as Oamaru, Lake Hawea, the Catlins, Wanaka and South Otago.

In 2022, the contestable funding available was $470,000 and in 2023 that rose to $568,000.

In May last year it was announced a total 32 organisations around Otago were the successful recipients of $536,470 - from both the ORC’s annual ECO Fund and its Incentives Fund.