Environment Southland has successfully bid for $4.5 million in Jobs for Nature project funding from the Government, potentially creating 70 jobs in the south over the next five years.

Two Southland freshwater ecosystem and biodiversity projects were included among the 23 newly-funded projects announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Sunday (July 5) at a Labour Party Congress meeting in Wellington.

Her speech focused on the Labour Government’s $50 billion-dollar, five-point, COVID-19 pandemic recovery plan.

The Labour Government’s $1.1 billion Jobs for Nature Plan is expected to create 11,000 environmental jobs. The latest package of 23 projects will get $162 million and should create about 2000 jobs nationally, Ms Ardern said. 

Local councils are receiving $62 million between them, while the Kaipara Moana Remediation Programme to halt degradation of the Kaipara Harbour is receiving $100 million.

“It’s about investing in our people, it’s about jobs, preparing for our future, supporting our small businesses, entrepreneurs and job creators and positioning ourselves globally,’’ Ms Ardern said of the recovery plan.

The biggest chunk of Environment Southland’s funding, $4.25 million, goes to a $6.25 million ‘Biodiversity Action on the Ground’ project.

Environment Southland chief executive Rob Phillips said the regional council would provide the remaining $2 million over the next five years.

That project actively manages pockets of native ecosystems, totaling about 300,000 hectares.

The money will be spent supporting local partners and landowners to control pests and weeds, create and revegetate wetlands, develop site specific management programmes, and assess and monitor current management programmes.

“We’ve always said that it is the work people do on the ground in communities that makes the real difference and the Government has recognised this by supporting our biodiversity project,” Mr Phillips said.

The Government is also giving $385,000 to a project that aims to fit 250 fish passages on streams over the next five years.

Environment Southland will contribute $115,000 to the $500,000 project from its biodiversity budgets for the next five years.

Mr Phillips said fitting fish passages and removing barriers in Southland’s streams would allow fish to move easily within rivers and streams.

Without the Government’s investment, the projects could take longer to progress, he said.

“We’re committed to working with our iwi partners, farmers, community groups and other organisations to strengthen Southland’s environment, as well as our economy. 

“One does not thrive without the other, so this investment is critically important to helping our region recover from the impacts of COVID-19,” he said.

The other projects come from all over New Zealand and range from creating hapu employment opportunities through hill country restoration and erosion mitigation to creating a conservation cadets programme.

Minister for the Environment David Parker said regional councils had submitted more than 300 projects for funding.

“An expert panel from Ministry for the Environment, Department of Conservation and Ministry for Primary Industries assessed the projects,” he said.

Local Government New Zealand’s Regional Sector Deputy Chair and Nelson City Council Mayor Rachel Reese said the projects had the potential to deliver huge environmental benefits and jobs.

She said the list of projects submitted by councils totalled $2 billion.

The successful projects were selected “because they demonstrate clear and immediate job creation, significant environmental outcomes, iwi and community engagement and/or partnership as well as regional spread,’’ Ms Reece said.