The purpose of the fund is to make available financial assistance to owners of mapped Significant Natural Areas (SNA) listed in the Proposed District Plan to encourage and assist with work that benefits these sites.

A growing number of landowners are protecting and restoring indigenous vegetation sites on their private land, the Contestable Biodiversity Fund was established to encourage and assist private landowners to carry out work that benefits biodiversity.

The fund is a contestable fund which is assessed and approved throughout the year by the Council’s District Planning and Regulation Committee. Council staff, with expert advice where necessary, will make recommendations to the Committee.

There is a variable amount available in this Fund, it will be distributed among the successful applicants. If there are no other applications or appropriate projects, the fund may not necessarily be distributed either in whole or in part.

Who Can Apply?

The Fund is open only to ratepayers of the Waimakariri District - individuals or groups - for work relating to either public or private land listed as a mapped SNA in the Proposed Waimakariri District Plan.

The Fund is not available:

(i) For work that there is a legal obligation to do;

(ii) To compensate for work already done. It is intended to assist with the cost of future work; and

(iii) For beautification projects, or to support those driven primarily for financial gain.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted throughout the year and funding rounds will be advertised. Applications can be made via the Biodiversity Contestable Fund Application Form.