Tararua funding approved from provincial fund

The announcement by Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones that Tararua has been approved funding from the Provincial Growth Fund for three significant projects is exciting news for the district, Tararua District Mayor Tracey Collis says.

The Minister announced $40m funding for ICT, which includes $4.5m for the Manawatu¯ Whanganui region.

The Connect Tararua project will be a beneficiary of the funding.

The application to the fund by Connect Tararua group has been driven by a strong community desire for core infrastructure for mobile and internet coverage.

The project is a great example of Council and the community collaborating for the benefit of the district, she said.

The first project will be a study of land use optimisation, targeting four crop options — feijoas, hazelnuts, cider apple trees and berries.

The study will investigate the optimal areas within Tararua District to grow these crops and assess market opportunities.

The feijoas and hazelnut study builds on the previous Go Project study by Tararua District Council, and cider apple trees and berries are new crop options.

The second project is development of a Tourism and Trails Strategy for Tararua District.

Council allocated a small amount of funding towards the development of a cycle and walkway strategy in the latest Long Term Plan. This additional funding boost from the PGF will deliver a broader outcome and add value to the tourism offerings in the district, she said.

“It has been a great day for Tararua These projects will underpin future economic activity in our district.”

Tararua will also benefit from funding to help establish a national commercial driver programme near Palmerston North.

The programme will be able to train up to 700 drivers and machine operators annually at Manfeild Park.