Multi-millions earmarked for Wairarapa | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Multi-millions in funding has been earmarked for Wairarapa projects in the Greater Wellington Regional Council 10-year plan.

Council chairwoman Fran Wilde said councillors approved their Long Term Council Community Plan at a meeting on Tuesday.

The plan rubber-stamped Wairarapa spending that includes $3.6 million for possum control, $2.1 million for erosion control, $1 million for Waiohine floodplain and Greytown flood protection, and the drawing-up of plans for a new council office in Masterton to also serve as a secondary Civil Defence emergency operating centre for the greater Wellington region.

Mrs Wilde said possum control spending would start modestly at $30,000 in 2010 and 2011 and gradually move up to $765,000 a year from 2017 through 2019 as the programme moves south.

"Farmers have been telling us for several years that they are delighted with the increased productivity and native birdlife that low possum numbers bring.

"They made it very clear through submissions that they didn't want to go back to the bad old days when possums were chewing on everything, including their bottom line."

Wairarapa representative to the council, Ian Buchanan, said $6.3 million would be spent over the next decade on erosion-prone eastern Wairarapa hill country with the Crown, the council and landowners each contributing a third share.

"The prospect of securing central government money for soil conservation was too good an opportunity to miss.

"It makes sense for the sustainability of the region's economy and environment to invest in this."

Mr Buchanan said over the 10-year period 2000ha would be planted with 145,000 poplar and willow poles that will stabilise land while allowing grazing to continue.

Another 1000ha would be fenced and retired from grazing under the plan, he said.

The initiative is expected to halve the expected 60 years it will take to stabilise erosion-prone Wairarapa hill country.

The council is also planning a major upgrade of flood protection works for the Waiohine Floodplain and Greytown, and ongoing work in the lower Ruamahanga River and has also earmarked $100,000 a year to go towards the development of a wetland park for Lake Wairarapa, Lake Onoke and surrounding wetlands.

Plans will be drawn and priced as well for a new Masterton office building that will be a secondary Civil Defence emergency centre for Wellington in case of a major natural disaster although a decision will be made next year whether to proceed with construction.

The proposed 10-year plan outlining council projects and spending was published for consultation on March 23 and closed for public submissions on April 24.

A summary of the plan was sent to every household in the Wellington region and there were 464 submissions and 90 oral submissions.

Wairarapa Hill Country advisory committee chairman Peter Gawith said farmers in the region will welcome the extra spending on possum control and soil conservation.

"This is the first opportunity in 20 years to take advantage of government funding for soil conservation and it is very encouraging to hear Greater Wellington will continue possum control as the Animal Health Board finishes their Bovine TB programme in parts of Wairarapa.

"Farmers, foresters, fruit growers - anyone who gardens in a rural area or enjoys our native birds and forests will benefit from this."