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The Franklin Local Board appears to be on the front foot when it comes to backing environmental projects. Almost $900,000 has been invested this financial year in a range of initiatives aimed at protecting the area’s plants, waterways and wildlife.
Projects receiving funding include:
Predator Free Franklin ($230,000)
People throughout Franklin are leading the charge in the war against pest animals and plants.
The Predator Free programme has been helping landowners take on pests. So far, they’re winning the battle with local conservation groups, businesses and residents pitching in.
A much-lauded project, Predator Free Franklin continues to be a successful organisation due, in no small part, to enlisting locals in efforts to protect our own big backyard.
Finding Franklin Bats ($60,000)
The subject of a series of articles in Franklin Times, rare pekapeka/long tailed bats are receiving VIP treatment.
Led by dedicated ‘Batman,’ Ben Paris, the Finding Franklin Bats project has been redoubling efforts to protect this elusive taonga.
Workshops training locals in backyard bat detection and two-day sessions teaching telemetry skills have proved especially popular.
With more people training as telemetry experts and certified bat handlers, Franklin’s network of nocturnal guardians keeps growing.
Freshwater Restoration ($60,000)
The mission to find Nemo’s tiny mates, rare shortjaw kōkopu and inanga, in Franklin’s waterways is not impossible, but it hasn’t been easy either.
These fish are vital to protecting the environment as they contribute to the water quality of freshwater ecosystems.So far this financial year, the programme is gaining momentum with 40 monitoring sites on private land and surveys have commenced.
Local fish kaitiaki (guardians) and children are being trained to learn more about these mysterious species. With better understanding of their population, they can be protected and ultimately improve Franklin’s ecological health and water quality.
Manukau Harbour Forum ($10,400+)
Nine local boards bordering on the Manukau Harbour have further invested in advocacy group, the Manukau Harbour Forum, to help make the harbour sparkle again.
During the past 16 years, the forum has passionately engaged with people to restore and protect New Zealand’s second largest harbour.
The forum focuses on strengthening engagement through presentations, collaboration with education teams, conservation groups, nurseries and ecological and climate resilience gatherings.
Funding helps support a coordinator to spread the word about the forum and to mobilise volunteers for planting days.
Papakura Stream Restoration ($25,000)
Locals have come out in droves to care for Papakura Stream.
A combined investment from Franklin, Manurewa and Papakura local boards over the past five years has helped ensure significant gains – more than 120,000 plants have been sown, and 1.5 tonnes of rubbish removed.
For more details regarding these (and more) environmental projects in Franklin, or to dig in and lend a hand, click here.
