Environmental Grants Scheme

 

Are you are a group or individual working to improve the health of Whakatū Nelson’s environment?

You may be eligible for an Environmental Grant!

The Environmental Grants scheme provides funding to support projects that protect, enhance and restore the health of our local environment.

Applications for the 2024/2025 funding round opens on Sunday, 1 September 2024 and closes on Monday, 30 September 2024.

Funding of up to $20,000 is available per project in any one year. However, applicants should note that there are limited funds available and aside from projects mitigating erosion, applications up to $5,000 are more likely to be successful.

Support can be in the form of money, professional ecological advice, and/or native plants.

More details below

Funding priorities for the 2024/2025 financial year are:

  • Projects that restore riparian margins or wetlands.
  • Projects that reduce erosion from streambanks or steep slopes on farming and forestry land.
  • Projects that enhance soil conservation.
  • Projects that exclude stock from waterways.
  • Projects that protect and restore a Significant Natural Area. Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) are sites contain significant indigenous vegetation or significant habitat of indigenous fauna. SNAs may include a range of ecosystems, e.g. native forest or coastal dunes, and are important refuges for protecting Whakatū/Nelson's ecosystems and species. Under the RMA, Council is required to work with landowners to identify and manage these areas.
  • Community projects* that protect and restore biodiversity by controlling weeds or browsing animals (e.g. goats, possums). 
  • Community projects* that enhance native wildlife through predator control.
  • Restoration projects of areas that support ecological connectivity across the Nelson landscape including rural, peri urban and urban areas.
  • Restoration of important coastal ecosystems, including saltmarsh, estuary, and dune ecosystems.                 

* Community projects are those that involve three or more landowners and/or involve public land.

Eligibility

Before applying, please check that:

  • The applicant has read and understood the council priorities and assessment criteria. 
  • The applicant is able to demonstrate alignment between your project and the priorities for this years funding.
  • The applicant grant area is located within the Nelson City Council boundaries.
  • The applicant does not owe any reports or money to Nelson City Council as a result of previous funding or grants.
  • The applicant has the appropriate type and level of insurance for the activities that are the subject of this grant.

You must be able to confirm that all statements above are true and correct to be eligible for a grant.

Assessment criteria

1. Thorough and feasible plan/project goal.

  • Applicant has clearly identified the project goal.
  • There is clear alignment between activities and outputs and predicted outcomes.

2. Aligns with council priorities.

  • Applicant provides supporting evidence, data or research findings that indicate alignment.
  • Priorities have been identified.

3. Capacity to deliver.

  • Application shows a project that is well planned and achievable within the timeframe.
  • Appropriate partners/contractors/groups have been identified that will help to deliver the project.

4. In -kind contributions.

  • Application has outlined in-kind, co-funding contributions that will be made to the project either by themselves, a community group, or a supporting organisation.

5. Environmental outcomes.  

  • Applicant has specified what and how environmental outcomes will be achieved through the project.

Does your project involve work in a Nelson City Council Park or Reserve, or in a Significant Natural Area on private land? If so, please contact Council at nelson.nature@ncc.govt.nz or by phoning 03 546 0200, to discuss your project BEFORE completing the application.

For more information, you can also refer to the FAQs at shape.nelson.govt.nz/environmental-grants.

If you prefer to submit a paper copy you can download an application form (288KB PDF) and email to nelson.nature@ncc.govt.nz