The Otago Regional Council handed out more than $10,000 last year to support consent applications for environmentally positive projects.
However, the bulk of the new consent fee support funding available was not used.
When consents manager Joanna Gilroy yesterday updated the council’s regulatory committee on the funding, she outlined two steps staff had taken to make the funding more easily accessible.
The council set aside $50,000 in the 2021-22 year to support consent processing fees for environmental projects after a Pomahaka catchment group baulked at a $20,000 bill for consenting fees to establish a wetland on an Otago dairy farm last year.
The catchment group and the council ultimately agreed to a significantly lower, but undisclosed, price to approve the planned restoration of 9ha of drained wetlands to as close as possible to what was there some 50 years ago.
With the new funding established, during the last financial year $13,342 was given to three environmental projects to support consent applications, Ms Gilroy said.
The Mana Tahuna Charitable Trust received $10,000 to support its $17,244 in consenting fees for environmental projects at a range of sites in the Lake Hayes catchment area.
Wanaka Community Garden Trust got $1363 for consent fees for its community green waste and worm farm operation.
The Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Trust and Vauxhall Yacht Club got $1979 for a billboard promoting biodiversity activities on the Otago Peninsula.
Ms Gilroy’s report to the committee said only the three applications were received and none were declined.
The first change to the funding would make it possible for an individual to access it, rather than only catchment or community groups.
The second change was to provide for compliance and administrations costs associated with the granted consent to be covered by the funds.
The committee yesterday also asked staff to review the fund at the end of this financial year and report any further recommended changes.
