Interest sought for Bay infrastructure fund
Time is running out for members of the Western Bay community to show their interest in a new fund that supports the development of infrastructure in the Bay of Plenty.
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC) has set up the the Regional Infrastructure Fund, which will provide additional capital funding to assist the development of major infrastructure projects in the Bay of Plenty.
More than $38 million has been set aside to support external infrastructure projects over the nine years, to June 2022.
The Expressions of Interest process will close on Friday, September 21, after being open since August 20.
On the council website it said the Expressions of Interest process was expected to provide councillors with information they can use to guide potential project partners on matters such as eligibility.
It will also help the council assess the level of interest in the Fund and the time period over which funding might be sought and drawn down. That way, the council will know if it needs to make adjustments to later stages of the application process, the website said.
BOPRC general manager for strategy, Fiona McTavish, said the Fund was targeted at projects which supported sustainable economic growth, or promoted environmental protection and enhancement by supporting sustainable regional economic development.
"Specifically, we want to help accelerate infrastructure projects in the region,'' Ms McTavish said.
"We hope, through this Fund, to improve the outcomes and quality of those projects or help to increase their scope.''
This is first time this type of funding process had been run by the Regional Council.
"It's important to note that depending on the types and quantity of applications we receive, we may decide to allocate all available funding through the first funding round, so we may decide not to hold further funding rounds in coming years,'' Ms McTavish said.
"Because of this, we're asking that anyone who has an eligible project that is planned for any time in the period to June 2022 to put their interest forward.''
The first funding application round will be held between November 2012 and January 2013.
Full details about what projects could be eligible, and information about how making an expression of interest, can be found the BOPRC website www.boprc.govt.nz
