Horizons award Regional Freshwater Community Grants

Horizons deputy chair Fiona Gordon says the annual freshwater grants are a meaningful way Horizons gets behind the community.

“It's all about supporting our community's efforts to improve water quality and boost education about caring for our water resources,” says Cr Gordon.

"There are so many individuals, groups and schools initiating exciting projects each year to create freshwater improvements with positive long-term impacts.

‘Council is proud to support these tangible, on-the-ground, local actions through these grants.”

The funding this year was spread across the region, with eight projects from the Manawatū River catchment, including the Tararua area, two from the Whanganui River catchment, one from Horowhenua and one from Rangitikei. The projects range from catchment-scale water quality monitoring programmes to riparian planting, wetland restoration, and community education initiatives.

“Congratulations to all the recipients and thank you for leading these projects. We look forward to seeing the results of your mahi,” says Cr Gordon.

The 12 recipients are:

• Aokautere School – Shade house for propagating plants

• Environment Network Manawatū – Freshwater futures, connecting young people as kaitiaki of our streams

• Feilding High School – Mangakino Stream restoration project

• Green Corridors (Range to River) – riparian planting along Turitea Stream

• Mangaone West Catchment Group – native planting around the catchment

• Pahiatua Golf Club – wetland restoration

• Palmerston North Golf Club – Wetland restoration project

• Rangitīkei River Catchment Collective – MCI Sampling & faecal source tracking investigation

• The Eco School – Wonderful Water

• The Farm Track Community Group – extension of walking track along Arawhata Stream

• Waitahora Landcare Collective (under umbrella of Manawatū River Catchments Collective) – spring to stream project, investigating nutrient levels in spring water

• Whanganui Region Catchment Collective – MCI Sampling.