The MainPower Hurunui Natural Environment Fund is an annually awarded fund, to encourage and assist with voluntary work that benefits our natural Environment.
With a heavy focus on work that protects, restores, or reinstates indigenous biodiversity within the Hurunui District. The criteria for deciding on the winners centred around how likely the project is to result in higher ecological outcomes, how well it will be sustained in the future, and whether it will benefit the wider community.
This year the fund was awarded to the following recipients:
Jed River Catchment Project: Aimed at restoring the natural character of the Jed River Catchment. Having designed a comprehensive eco-restoration pan and achieving some impressive outcomes, such as extensive willow control (with no chemical usage). Collecting and propagating seeds from the same ecological district, while demonstrating best eco-restoration practices. This funding will support the purchasing of Eco sourced native plants, that will be planted in Hutchison Reserve.
Ashworth Trapping Group: Another recipient of the fund is the Ashworth Trapping Group, their focus on predator trapping and fencing to protect Banded dotterels, Pied stilts and other sea birds nesting on Ashworth’s Ponds. This project has incredible potential to protect the habitats of native birds and enhance the chances of nesting success, contributing toward the restoration of natural character, and increasing biodiversity in the area. This funding will support the purchasing of new traps and extended fencing.
Francois Bonny, and Kate McMillan: The final recipients of the fund are Francois Bonny, and Kate McMillan. Their project is situated on private land, focusing on the restoration of a natural ecosystem. This is inclusive of weed control in highly diverse native remnant bush and fencing off 1ha of grey scrub area. While unable to support the weed control (as this is the landowner’s responsibility), the funding is able to support the purchasing of fencing to allow the ecosystem to regenerate naturally and enhance the habitat for native bird species and lizards.
MainPower’s Karen Cameron, standing alongside Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black, and the 2022 Natural Environment Fund recipients.
