Small Scale Community Initiatives Fund (SSCIF)

Information for applicants - please read first

• Assessment criteria

  Applications are assessed according to how well they meet the following criteria:

  1. Fit with priorities in the Waikato Regional Pest Management Plan.
  2. Biodiversity protection and enhancement: How effectively will the project promote, enhance or protect biodiversity, and is there outcome monitoring proposed?
  3. Ecological significance of the site: Is there a Significant Natural Area or Feature being protected?
  4. Community participation and awareness: How effectively will the project engage with community and utilise volunteer support?
  5. Collaboration and partnership: Have applicants explored and developed opportunities for co-funding and/or collaboration with stakeholders e.g. DOC, iwi/Maaori, other agencies and community groups?
  6. Project budget: Cost versus perceived outcomes are compared.
  7. Viability: Likelihood of the project's success and inclusion of an adequate map.
• Who can apply?

  Volunteer community based groups or individual landowners.
• Limitations

  If you are already receiving funding for a project through the Environmental Initiatives Fund or the Natural Heritage Fund in the current financial year then you will not be eligible to apply for SSCIF funding for the same project.

  Starting from the 2024/2025 round, applicants to the SSCIF may only be awarded funding for a maximum of three consecutive years and will then be required to take a minimum of one years break before applying to the SCCIF again.
• What can be funded?
  • Purchase of materials including traps, bait, bait stations or herbicide used in pest animal or pest plant control.
  • Professional contracted services up to $1,000 (e.g. the services of a qualified herbicide applicator or controlled substance licence holder).
• What cannot be funded?
  • Reimbursement of landowner time or voluntary labour.
  • Projects located outside the Waikato region.
  • Debt repayment.
  • Projects which are core business of other agencies.
  • Travel, conference, legal or accounting expenses.
  • Plants, planting and landscaping projects.
  • Proposals designed to generate personal or commercial profit.
  • Purchase of capital items of equipment or infrastructure (e.g. GPS or vehicles).
  • Any works/activities that are required as conditions of a resource consent.
  • Projects that require but have not been granted resource consent.
  • Retrospective cost.