There’s great news for the people of the Whakatāne District, with Council set to receive $5.66 million of funding to accelerate seven ’Community Good’ projects.
It comes after Council’s application for the first tranche ($5.66 million) of Government’s Better off Funding, was officially approved last week.
Chief Executive Steph O’Sullivan says it’s great to see investment coming into the area from Central Government which will ensure we can continue to create an inclusive, resilient, and thriving District.
“This funding has given us huge opportunity to enhance and innovate and, in some cases, speed up key projects that will have benefit across all communities.”
“Our District has so much potential, and opportunity and this investment will ensure we can provide better outreach into our rural and remote communities, improve access and recreational activities across the District, support Iwi to achieve their tribal visions and engage in strategic projects, and more generally support business and employment,” Ms O’Sullivan said.
The seven projects approved for funding are:
• planning for Murupara and Minginui regeneration, and amenity projects ($700K)
• developing shared-use cycle trail from Edgecumbe to Thornton ($900K)
• enhancing Civil Defence preparedness and strengthening Waimana and Te Teko community halls ($1.36M)
• commencing a two-year commitment for a collective Iwi Policy Hub ($1M)
• delivering Hono Hapori - mobile community outreach for Council services ($500K)
• providing for a CCTV upgrade and expansion ($1M)
• accelerating the Whakatāne-Kawerau Spatial Plan ($200K).
The allocated funding package has been designed to boost local amenity and outcomes while ensuring minimal impact to residents and ratepayers.
In total the Whakatāne District has been allocated $22.66 million with the second tranche of funding ($16.99 million) becoming available in 2024. Funding was pre-allocated to councils based on a nationally consistent formula that considers population, the deprivation index and land area. Now funding has been approved Council will start on establishing the work programme for the projects alongside our partner organisations.