The Otago Regional Council approved 11 applicants for a share of its Eco Fund during a full council meeting in Queenstown yesterday.
It was good news for the Ecotago Charitable Trust’s Tomahawk Lagoon citizen science project, which is one of the highest-receiving recipients in this round of funding.
Project lead facilitator Andrew Innes, who is a retired biology, chemistry and science secondary school teacher, said he was "thrilled".
"We actually do all the analysis ourselves and we need material to do things — we beg, steal and borrow things from all over the place to do the work."
The funding meant the group could focus on the project, rather than worrying about money, he said.
The group is made up of teachers, scientists, students and community members who are concerned for the health of Tomahawk Lagoon.
They collect environmental data and monitor water quality every two weeks to understand the health and trends in water quality at the lagoon.
Mr Innes said the group rated the water quality as poor to satisfactory.
The Eco Fund provides $250,000 a year to support environmental, community driven projects.
The funding is split into two funding rounds of $125,000, with one round in October and one in March.
This round received 25 applications seeking a total of $296,725. Eleven applications to the total value of $123,525 were approved.
Other recipients. —
Under $5000: Chain Hills Restoration Trust — Chain Hills restoration project; Central Otago Ecological Trust — green skink translocation; New Zealand International Science Festival — outside inside forest; Dunedin Environment Centre Trust — Kaikorai Estuary track marking and planting.
Over $5000: North Otago Sustainable Management Group — soil your undies, stretching the elastic; Palmerston Primary School — creek restoration; Wai Wanaka — farming for the environment; Ecotago Charitable Trust — identifying and addressing contaminant inputs into Tomahawk Lagoon; Open Valley Urban Ecosystems Project — open valley urban ecosystems and backyard ecosanctuaries programme; Centre for Science Communication, University of Otago — nature show; Glenorchy Community Association — Glenorchy community nursery.
