Jobs for Nature boost for South Westland
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Underspend on a $1.2 billion dollar conservation programme means work in South Westland is to be extended until the middle of next year.
Jobs for Nature has funded nearly 11,000 hours of community conservation in the three years to the end of June.
The multi-agency programme which was due to finish this winter will now run until June 2024.
Department of Conservation Western South Island director Mark Davies said the extension had been made possible due to an underspend of about $850,000 from the original allocation for the region.
Davies said the focus of the programme was to support the communities in South Westland however the quicker return of visitors to the Glaciers post-covid meant the project funding had been underspent, enabling the extension.
"Visitors came back a bit faster."
It effectively enabled a good opportunity to extend the programme timeframe beyond that envisaged which was "a great outcome".
The $1.19b Jobs for Nature programme set up in the wake of Covid-19 managed funding across multiple government agencies as an economic stimulus to benefit the environment, people and the regions - with South Westland a big beneficiary from 2020 onward.
A report to the West Conservation Board on August 25 noted the South Westland Conservation and Tourism Jobs for Nature Programme had the green light for a fourth year.
This effectively enables its business partners to continue to contribute towards conservation outcomes in conjunction with DOC and support the retention of employees throughout the winter low season.
"In the final quarter of the 2022-23 year, 19 of the business partners carried out a further 1515 hours of conservation work," the report said.
"This means that year three of the programme ended in June with over 10,900 hours of work completed in total."
Thoughout the past year business partners in the programme had contributed to track and amenities upgrades, species monitoring, weed and predator control, digital archiving, and biodiversity assets support.
"This has been an asset to conservation in South Westland and we look forward to continuing this collaboration with our business partners into 2023-24."
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
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53.2% Yes
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46.8% No
‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...
As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.
Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.
There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”
A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105
🚧 Big upgrades are on the way for Haast!
Motorists travelling on SH6 near Haast should be ready for some delays, with $5 million worth of work kicking off on important improvements to the highway.
The Gates of Haast Gorge bridge, which connects the 140km journey between Haast and Wānaka, is a crucial link — especially for locals and visitors heading to the West Coast glaciers.
A bit of patience now for safer, stronger roads ahead! 💛
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