Amy Adams5 July, 2012
- Environment Minister Amy Adams has announced
that the Government is providing $1.5 million
to 16 community groups to help them improve
the environment, under the latest round
of the Community Environment Fund.
The fund helps New Zealanders
who are passionate about the environment
take action to address local issues.
The $1.5 million will
help improve fish stocks, restore wetlands,
implement pest control operations, reduce
sediment and nutrient going into waterways,
create a habitat sanctuary and establish
community vegetable gardens and composting
facilities.
"The range of work
that will be undertaken to enhance our environment
is impressive, and I am pleased the Government
is able to reward passion and initiative
through this fund," Ms Adams says.
Recipients include the
Conscious Consumers programme run by the
42collective The group will use $70,000
to encourage cafes, restaurants, bars and
their suppliers to use environmentally-sustainable
business practices, such as composting and
recycling.
The Piha wetland restoration
project receives $50,000 to restore a wetland
area and create an outdoor classroom for
Auckland's school students.
Students will help the
restoration by planting flax and native
plants, while learning to identify and study
the plants in the wetland.
The Bay of Islands Maritime
Park Incorporated Society will use $80,000
to reduce sediment and nutrient input to
Bay of Islands waterways to restore functional
freshwater, marine ecosystems and natural
biodiversity. It will also educate, encourage
and support landowner and community initiatives
and advocate for integrated catchment management
within the Bay.
The Habitat Restoration
at Tawharanui Open Sanctuary project will
restore coastal forest and swamp forest
wetland vegetation at Tawharanui Regional
Park. The project will establish 6.5 hectares
of coastal pohutukawa and coastal broadleaf
and swamp forest to increase the habitat
for re-introduced species and strengthen
the links between existing native forest
and wetland areas. It will also improve
the quality of wetland environments and
protect water quality by removing stock
access to coastal and valley environments
and provide opportunities for community
involvement and education in the sanctuary.
Ms Adams has also announced
that the next funding round for the Community
Environment Fund has now opened.
“This is a fantastic
fund and the Government is keen to support
smart initiatives that encourage local communities
to think about their impact on the environment
and help make a positive difference. I encourage
groups with great ideas to talk to the Environment
Ministry about whether their project is
eligible for funding.”
+ More
Report on RMA principles
released
Amy Adams5 July, 2012
- Environment Minister Amy Adams today released
an independent report which considered changes
to sections 6 and 7 of the Resource Management
Act to address, among other things, management
of natural hazards.
“After the Canterbury
earthquakes, it became clear that consents
for subdivisions had been granted without
any consideration of the risk of liquefaction,”
Ms Adams says.
“The problem was that
the RMA did not, and still does not, require
these sorts of risks to be assessed and
managed.
“Instead, the RMA prioritises
preserving natural character, landscape,
flora and fauna, public access, cultural
values and heritage over managing natural
hazards.”
The Government asked
an independent technical advisory group
to provide advice on whether the RMA should
be amended to give greater consideration
to emerging issues like natural hazards,
and urban and infrastructure development.
The report proposes
that changes be made to the principles in
sections 6 and 7 of the RMA to bring managing
natural hazards and urban and infrastructure
into the list of things that should be considered
when Councils grant resource consents.
It also says that none
of these matters should be more important
than another, and proposes changes to the
structure of the RMA to make this clearer.
“The report represents
the independent views of those on the advisory
group, and the Government will consider
the recommendations as part of our wider
reforms of the resource management system.
“A key consideration
for the Government in thinking about any
changes to the resource management system
is to achieve enduring outcomes while reducing
the time, costs and uncertainties involved
in the process.”
