Environmental projects in the Bay can seek a boost to their budget with community groups now able to apply for funds year-round.

Coast Care volunteers planting at the Main Mount Beach - an EEF project.

The change, which makes the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Environmental Enhancement Fund (EEF) an ‘open season' source, replaces a previous contestable funding system held at a set time each year. The new year-round option begins July 1.

Established in 2000, the fund has so far distributed more than $7.5million to almost 500 environmental projects throughout the region.

Last week, the regional council's Operations, Monitoring and Regulation Committee endorsed the change, which supports projects that target water quality and habitats, enhancing streams, lakes, harbours and estuaries. The fund is also supporting innovative projects that optimise the use of the natural resources such as water and energy, or waste.

The He Matapuna Akoranga a Hawea Vercoe Memorial Fund, which began in 2010 after the death of the regional councillor, will be merged with EEF funding but keep its own identity by assisting appropriate projects submitted by Kura Kaupapa M?ori, bilingual schools and Kohanga Reo.

Committee chairman Malcolm Whitaker says the council wanted to encourage groups wanting a small amount of seed funding to apply for grants.

'Groups are encouraged to apply for the amount of funding required for their project, whether it is $5000, $10,000 or $25,000 – and the funding can be applied for at any time,” he says.

'This funding contributes to community development and has encouraged volunteers to improve their community environments over the years. For every $1 the council invests the return is $1.60 because of volunteer involvement.”

The changes to the fund improve its efficiency and enable it to operate at maximum effectiveness for the same or lower cost.