In Brief

Climate funds offered

Groups involved in building resilient communities in a changing climate are invited to apply for funding from the Northland Regional Council. The sorts of projects that the council will be looking to fund will address water, energy, nature-based, food and planning resilience. The fund is designed to assist community or neighbourhood groups, tāngata whenua (hapū or iwi groups/marae committees), social enterprises and not-for-profit businesses, and education providers. Groups can apply for grants of up to $40,000 plus GST and applications close on June 3.  Info: https://www.nrc.govt.nz/environment/climate-action/climate-resilient-communities-fund/

No dog fee changes

Kaipara District Council hopes that its decision not to increase dog registration fees this year will lead to more people registering their dogs. Council was considering increasing the annual registration fee for pet dogs from $78 to $113 and dangerous dogs from $114 to $166. However, on the advice of officers, it decided to leave the current charges stand. During the last financial year, animal control officers responded to 115 stock complaints, 67 dog attacks, 36 rushing dogs, 29 wry stock and 767 wandering dog issues. There are an estimated 5221 dogs in Kaipara and just over 95 per cent of those dogs are registered. The penalty for failing to register a dog will remain at $300 and failure to keep a dog under control could cost the owner $200.

Tapora lakes?

Ruakaka developer John Keith wants to extract seven million cubic metres of sand from farmland in Tapora and create a 27-hectare recreational dune lake with accommodation and nature trails in the process. The 40-hectare site is directly opposite Tapora Golf Club and Te Puni Tapora Campground, and is bordered by farmland to the north, avocado orchards to the south and the Okahukura Conservation Area and Kaipara Harbour to the west. If consented, Keith says the sand extraction could take up to 50 years before the dune lake system was fully complete.