The 2016 winners of the Speight’s Fund have been announced, with five Dunedin groups receiving up to $10,000 each to further develop their environmental projects.
The Speight’s Brewery Environmental Fund was established in 2009 to award grants to not-for-profit groups in the Dunedin area. The fund has a focus on groups working to improve and preserve Otago’s natural environment and has given away almost $150,000 over eight years.
Each year the brewery contributes a lump sum of $25,000 to the fund, which is supplemented by donations made by visitors to the Speight’s Brewery in Dunedin. The 2016 total was approximately $30,000.
The 2016 Fund winners are:
Orokonui Ecosanctuary, awarded $1,585 to purchase and install a water tank to provide water for seedlings and clean feeding stations.
Forest and Bird NZ, awarded $10,000 to set up a trapping programme to reduce introduced predators in the Catlins.
Blueskin Youth and Community Amenities Association, awarded $5,000 towards the planning of a boardwalk at the Orokonui Ecosanctuary.
Blueskin Farm LTD, awarded $4,450 to build a fence to exclude stock from Alexander’s Creek in Blueskin Bay to help encourage indigenous fish biodiversity.
Te Kakano Aotearoa Trust (Wanaka), awarded $5,000 to restore, clean up and replant more natives in Bullock Creek.