Community

Applying for funding Irrigation Fund

Application timelines Application form The Community Irrigation Fund (CIF) aims to:
Available on www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/ ›› build resilience in agricultural producers and rural communities;
Generating investor and/or community ›› ensure their long-term economic growth within sustainable environmental limits;
cif/ or email cifund@maf.govt.nz
Support by reducing the risks they face from water shortages caused by climate change.
Applications close: Late February More information The Community Irrigation Fund provides grants to assist:
Applicants advised of result: Late May To find out more and to obtain an application ›› promoters of community water storage and/or irrigation schemes
form, contact us at: ȤȤ generate investor and/or community support; and
Detailed engineering design work
ȤȤ carry out detailed engineering design for schemes.
Two funding rounds a year Community Irrigation Fund
›› local government to undertake activities which contribute to a strategic water management plan
For 2010/11 MAF Policy
that considers the potential for rural irrigation-related infrastructure.
›› First round: PO Box 2526
ȤȤ Applications close: 10 September 2010 Wellington 6140 The contestable Fund has a total of $5.7 million spread over eight years (2008/09 to 2015/16).
ȤȤ Applicants advised of result: Late Tel: 04-894 0632 or 0800 008 333
October 2010 Who can apply for a grant?
Email: cifund@maf.govt.nz
›› Promoters and/or operators of new, upgrading or expanding community water storage and/or
›› Second round
Web: www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/cif/
irrigation schemes. A community scheme is one that is initiated, developed and used by multiple
ȤȤ Applications close: 18 February 2011 members of a rural community, primarily for irrigation. Applicants must have a feasibility study
ȤȤ Applicants advised of result: Late April (or similar) that covers the technical, economic and environmental feasibility and consentability
2011 of the proposed scheme or upgrade. Applicants must be New Zealand registered legal entities.

Water strategies ›› Local government (including the Regional and all relevant Territorial Authorities) and/or
Applications close: Late February an entity undertaking a local government-led water strategy on behalf of local government.
Applicants advised of result: Late May Applications are particularly welcome from local government entities that can demonstrate the
need for a water strategy in their area that considers the potential for rural irrigation-related
infrastructure.

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140 August 2010

Tel: 0800 008 333 Web: www.maf.govt.nz

Community Schemes
What can grants be used for?
Detailed engineering design work
Grants can be used to pay for engineering design
work from the detailed design stage up to the
completion of the final design report and/or
preparation of contract documents. The scope of
the services to be provided by the consulting
engineer must be clearly documented.
Examples of services covered:
Technical services
›› Site investigations to determine the suitability
of the site.
›› Programme whole of life cost modelling, and
quality control planning.
Design services
›› A detailed look at the preliminary design in
the feasibility study and any additional work
required to refine initial costs.
›› Evaluation of alternatives to investigate
savings and innovative concepts.
›› Design development such as preparation of
design reports, identification of appropriate
standards, developed design of the works and
co-ordination of design and documentation
provided by other consultants.
›› Work to meet formal statutory design
approvals (e.g. building permits) or
confirmation of compliance with consents or
permits.
›› Preparation of schedules of quantities in
accordance with recognised methods of
measurements.
›› Preparation of draft operation and
maintenance manuals as a means of detailing
the minimum standards for the contractor.
›› Preparation of testing procedures and
commissioning plans.
›› Preparation of risk analysis and a
management plan including a health and
safety plan.
›› Preparation of tender and contract
documents for building the scheme.
Generating investor and/or community
support
Examples of activities covered:
›› Supporting a project manager or public
affairs co-ordinator.
›› Promotional and communications activities.
›› Facilitating discussions with the community
on relevant issues.
›› Developing a governance model.
›› Developing a prospectus for potential
investors in the community.
›› Investigating a range of potential scheme
funding arrangements.
›› Facilitating farmer investment (e.g. showing
farmers the benefits and costs of irrigation).
›› Investigating possibilities for the multiple use
of water by communities (e.g. recreational
opportunities).
What can’t grants be used for?
›› Pre-feasibility and feasibility studies.
›› Investigative surveys.
›› Economic studies.
›› Environmental impact studies and
assessments.
›› Participation in resource consent hearing
processes or litigation.
›› Local or central government fees or charges.
›› Administration of the construction contract.
›› Capital expenditure or the physical
construction of schemes.
››
››
Shop and as built drawings.
Technical assistance to construction
›› Legal and bank costs. contractors during the construction phase.
›› Calling and evaluating of tenders. ›› Long-term, ongoing costs of an organisation/
›› Assisting in negotiations with construction project beyond the grant period.
contractor. ›› Assisting with in-kind (non-cash) costs.
›› Administration of construction contract. ›› Costs already incurred.
water strategies
What can grants be used for?
You can use grants for activities that contribute to
an integrated water management strategy that
considers the potential for rural irrigation-related
infrastructure. The aim of the strategy should be
the management of water to best meet community
needs and aspirations.
The applicant must demonstrate how the activities
will underpin a Strategic Water Plan for the
region/area.
The overall water strategy (though not one of the
›› Promotional and communication activities.
activities funded by the CIF) should be incorpo-
›› Supporting a project manager.
rated into relevant Regional Policy Statements,
›› Project administration costs.
Regional Plans and District Plans.
Activities for which you could use grants include:
›› Technical reports such as:
What can’t grants be used for?
›› Water strategies that don’t consider rural
ȤȤ water resource assessments,
water infrastructure.
ȤȤ water demand reports;
›› Funding infrastructure (e.g. irrigation
ȤȤ environmental flow reports (restricted
schemes, hydrological monitoring sites etc).
funding available) for the management of
›› Feasibility studies for individual schemes.
rivers e.g. flow investigation reports (flow
›› Costs associated with legal action or
and/or landscape related).
opinion; e.g. expenses incurred in
›› Environmental impact reports.
environment court.
›› Economic impact reports.
›› Processes associated with incorporating
›› Social impact reports.
a water strategy into regional or district
›› Development of evaluation criteria.
plans.
›› Writing a strategy.
›› Retrospective costs.
›› Consultation with experts, stakeholders and
›› Activities that are part of a council’s
public.
statutory role or normal business
›› Providing information for communities and
management, unless funding them can be
determining community preferences on the
justified on the basis of need.
options.