An unexpected cash injection of more than $18,600 has allowed the Save the Otago Peninsula Society to complete one of its environmental protection projects well ahead of schedule.
Society member Ian Frazer said the funding would allow the organisation to fence off an area of the Harbour Cone Reserve to protect a nearby wetland from livestock.
The money was given to the society by Speight's Brewery during a ceremony on Wednesday night.
Dr Frazer was delighted with the grant.
''It's for two fences. We're working on fencing off Smith's Creek and a couple of small catchments to keep stock off the wetland.
''We're over the moon because it's very hard for us to raise that sort of money.''
''We weren't expecting to get enough to fund the two fences. We thought we would be very lucky if we got enough for one.
''Getting enough for two was way past our expectations.''
Speight's Brewery tour manager Chris Snow said the society was one of six community organisations which received Speight's Fund grants totalling about $35,000.
Other recipients were.- Te Kakano Aotearoa Trust (Wanaka) $9600; Sinclair Wetlands (Dunedin) $4716; Green Hut Track Group (Dunedin) $1448; Sustainable Coastlines Charitable Trust (Dunedin) $1000; Orokonui Ecosanctuary (Dunedin) $702.55.john.lewis@odt.co.nz
