Northland weathers Covid-19 storm with $32m funding, 200+ jobs in Whangārei

Friday, 10 July 2020

Northland will benefit from $32 million in Government funding, expected to create 212 jobs to help the region weather the storm of the coronavirus pandemic.

Whangārei’s revitalisation project was one of 12 major projects announced last week as part of the Government’s $3 billion Covid-19 infrastructure spend-up.

But when Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced details at an event in Whangārei on Thursday evening, he said the funding had increased from $20m to $26m.

Whangārei is set to get $26m in funding for revitalisation projects, including two on Pohe Island (left of picture) and one on Hihiaua Peninsula (right background).

More than 200 jobs are expected to be created through the package, which cover a group of projects identified by the region as priorities, Jones said.

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Whangārei Boys’ High School, led by Karen Gilbert-Smith, will get $1m towards an engineering facility (file photo).

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The growing area of Ruakaka, south of central Whangārei, will get a new recreation facility.

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Whangārei Heads is known for its kiwi population. A $6m grant will help pest eradication in the area (file photo).

Whangārei District Council will now receive $16m for its mixed transport programme, helping it to provide a safer network of walking and cycling paths through Whangārei city, plus funding towards upgrading a bridge and roundabout at Port Nikau, a new subdivision south of the city.

The Hihiaua Cultural Centre will receive $3m towards building an 850-seat cultural performance centre, although more than $17m still needs to be raised.

The Whangārei Boys’ High School Engineering Academy will receive $1m towards a purpose-built engineering facility, enabling industry-focused training on site.

The Northland Rugby Union will receive $1.5m to build its clubrooms on Pohe Island, putting the club on track to help host the Women’s Rugby World Cup in September 2021.

Two million dollars will go towards a bike park at William Fraser Memorial Park on Pohe Island, while $2.5m will help build a recreation facility in the growing area of Ruakaka.

Meanwhile, a further 12 jobs are expected to be created with $6m in funding to remove pests.

Community group Predator Free Whangārei will receive the funding, Jones and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced on Friday morning.

The funding will enable the complete removal of possums from a 10,000ha area around Whangārei Heads over the next five years.

Possums, mustelids and rats will also be targeted across 60,000ha from central Whangārei to Whangārei Heads.

The project will also get significant in-kind contributions from the Department of Conservation, community conservation groups, Northland Regional Council, Whangārei District Council and Kiwi Coast.

Meanwhile, another Northland conservation project is also getting a boost, with Sustainable Kaipara receiving a $361,447 grant from the Ministry for the Environment’s Waste Minimisation Fund.

The fund will allow Sustainable Kaipara to promote waste reduction and recycling initiatives, plus conduct a feasibility study for a hot compost facility in Mangawhai, associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage said on Thursday.