29 / 60
doing so adds value to the
decision making process of
the Board.
The Board, having received
the recommendations of the
panel, makes its decision on
which projects will be funded,
to what level, and with what
conditions (if any) attached
to the funding. Deeds of
Funding are then entered into
between the Authority and the
successful applicant. These set
out the conditions of funding,
including planned milestones,
deliverables, and payments .
Projects are monitored over
the course of their lifetime
by the Authority, including
site visits, reviews of reports,
or other such reviews as are
appropriate to the project.
A final review is undertaken
before the final payment
is made for each project.
Payments are made in
two ways:
• Projects receiving less
than $50,000 in Authority
funding are paid in advance,
generally 60-80% as an
up front payment, with
the remainder paid on
successful completion of
the project.
• Projects receiving more
than $50,000 are paid in
arrears, upon completion
of milestones. Evidence
of milestones being
completed is required.
A project portal allows the
projects to report, share
information, provide invoices
and apply for modifications
to their project electronically.
This process provides an
efficient means to monitor
project delivery and record
payments.
Each year a small number
of projects are selected
for independent audit.
Independent auditors are
also brought in if serious
concerns are noted with
regard to the delivery or
management of a project.
Outcomes
In the first four years of
projects funded through
the Authority, 189.4 hectares
of land area was the focus
of clean-up projects. The
work undertaken on this
land area included pest plant
eradication and riparian
planting.
A total of 1.1 million native
plants and trees were planted
in association with 137
projects from years one to
four.
Fencing of restoration planting
and wetland creation in the
first four years amounted to
85.2 kilometres. The Authority
has a fencing standards policy
to guide project managers.
In the first four years of
funding $22.4 million was
granted to clean-up projects.
For every dollar allocated,
an additional $1.42 of co-
funding or in-kind support was
matched from other funding
sources.
2013
2014
• Multi agency tuna restoration project for the
lower Waikato River gets underway
• Restoration of whitebait spawning habitat
on the Mangati Stream carried out
• One further iwi environmental plan and one
fisheries plan funded
• Guide for willow and alder management
produced
• Pest plant clearance over an area of 152
hectares carried out
• Restoration of wetland within Otorohanga
township leading to the Waipa River
• Pest fish reduction and riparian planting
carried out at Lake Ngaroto
• Twelve kilometres of river bank pest
plant clearance carried out
• Sustainable milk plans for a further 845
dairy farms jointly funded
• Funding allocated for a comprehensive
restoration strategy masterplan for the
Waikato and Waipa rivers funded
• Twenty-nine hectares of wetlands
created
• Restoration of Eastern Whangamarino
wetland carried out
• Restoration and planting of a major
wetland complex bordering the Waipa
River at Te Pahu carried out.
27
Waikato River Authority
Five Year Report
2015