Partnerships ring fence results
Katikati’s Project Parore, previously known as Uretara Estuary Managers Incorporated (UEMI) has had a long and close association with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and other interested community groups, keeping abreast of the evolving Government regulations on fresh water.
In fact the Bay of Plenty Regional Council has been co-funding stock exclusion projects firstly with UEM and lately with Project Parore for 15 years.
Key stakeholders Project Parore now has a relationship with include: TECT, BayTrust, Bay Conservation Alliance, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, BOPRC, the three northern marae (Otawhiwhi, Tuapiro and Te Rereatukahia), Ministry for the Environment, plus links with Katch Katikati, Western Bay Museum and Katikati A&P Show.
After receiving core funding for the ‘Katikati Hills to Ocean (H20) Project’ from Ministry for the Environment’s (MFE) Freshwater Improvement Fund in 2018, Project Parore has been working with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and local landowners to create comprehensive management plans that address a range of water quality and biodiversity issues.
Project Parore’s vision is of a thriving northern Tauranga Harbour, with habitat restoration and sustainable land use practice being embraced by eight catchment communities from Aongatete to Athenree. This was behind a successful application to MFE’s Jobs for Nature fund in 2021.
Stock exclusion plays a big part in fresh water regulations as excluding stock from natural wetlands, lakes, rivers and streams more than one metre wide is intended to reduce freshwater pollution, prevent bank erosion and sediment loss, and allow riparian plants to grow.
“Fencing waterways and riparian planting are two of the simplest and most direct ways of keeping stock out which leads directly to better water quality,” says Project Parore’s general manager Brodie Davis. “And we aren’t just working with large landowners. We have many lifestyle property owners who are fencing off areas on their properties.
“Over the last two years alone, more than 10km of fencing has been completed and over 100,000 riparian natives have been planted in partnership with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, landowners and keen volunteers. We can’t thank our volunteers enough. They make our job so much easier.”
“The horticultural emphasis within the lower catchments means stock exclusion isn’t as big an issue for us as it is in other more pastoral focused catchments,” said Project Parore chair David Peters.
“However, it’s still very important we continue with fencing for stock exclusion at the steeper, top ends of the catchments where beef, lamb and dairy or more prevalent,” added Mr Peters.
Project Parore is working with the regional council and landowners to develop environmental plans for farmers. “At the moment landowners can have significant funding from co-funders for planting, fencing and plant pest control paid for between us and the regional council. This level of support won’t be available for long. It’s a great opportunity for farmers,” said Mr Peters.
Mr Peters hopes Project Parore will develop income streams that are sustainable going forward into the future. Currently Project Parore receives ongoing funding from the Ministry for the Environment (MFE) plus grants from TECT and Bay Trust. MFE funding will finish in three years.
“We are working with likeminded groups who are also going to be affected by the ending of the Jobs for Nature scheme to find a sustainable way going forward. This is a key focus for our board.”
In 2022, Project Parore was awarded the inaugural Catchment Group Award for Bay of Plenty at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Project Parore was also a finalist in the Western Bay Community Awards this year.
■ For more information visit www.projectparore.nz