February 07, 2020
PGF funds for Northland water storage
The Government will provide up to $12.7 million to make Northland more water resilient in the face of extreme weather.
In Dargaville this morning, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced up to $12 million would go to Northland Regional Council from the Provincial Growth Fund for a water storage project.
Another $745,000 will go to the Kai for Kaipara project, which aims to enable Kaipara District Council to demonstrate a model that will give local landowners and external investors confidence they can transition to high-value horticulture once a sustainable water supply is in place.
Mr Jones says the PGF can be used to invest in water storage initiatives that will enable Māori land to be better utilised, strengthen regional economies, are environmentally sustainable, have local support and deliver benefits to communities.
Floods, drought, declining rainfall and river flows and rising temperatures are seen as increasing threats to Northland’s economy and wellbeing, and the region also needs water storage to manage increased demands from a growing population and economy.
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