Funding awarded for fourth round of Ranger work at Silverstream

We can proudly announce that Sustainable Business Network’s (SBN’s) Partnering to Plant Aotearoa programme has been awarded the funding required to deliver the fourth round of Ranger work based at Silverstream Reserve.

Council sought Government funding in 2020 for a number of shovel ready projects which would meet the criteria and gain Provincial Growth Fund funding. Whilst these were unsuccessful, an organisation called Sustainable Business Networks (SBN) whose applications for funding was supported by WDC was successful in its funding application made on behalf of a number of protects across the country including Silverstream Reserve.

The funds applied for were from a DOC fund called Jobs for Nature, a fund established to help revitalise communities through nature-based employment and stimulate the economy post COVID-19. This successful application for funds enabled SBN to roll out their programme called Partnering to Plant. The first round of funding for Silverstream enabled the employment of two rangers for 3 months and we are now into our third round of funding.

Kate and Simon commenced employment through Ryan Recruiting in September 2020 with round one completed in January 2021, a second round of funding ran through to the end of April 2021 and the third round with three Rangers being Kate, Esther and Erica now taking us through to September 2021.

The benefits of this Ranger team have been significant to the Waimakariri District Council Greenspace Team and the natural reserves we manage for our community, in particular Silverstream Reserve where the Rangers are based. This reserve was the basis for the successful funding due to the potential biodiversity and recreational gains available and the work experience/opportunities presented to P2P programme participants. The community partnership in the management of this reserve was also a significant factor where most of the biodiversity enhancement work is carried out by community volunteers.