Te Pūtea Whakapiki ā-Rohe | Regional Benefit Fund

Eligible expenditure may include:

• Capital construction costs.

• Infrastructure establishment, enhancement or expansion costs.

• Natural infrastructure development or maintenance costs.

• Specialist technical services directly related to delivery.

• Consenting costs.

• Project management costs directly attributable to delivery.

• Professional services necessary for delivery.

• Monitoring required to confirm successful establishment outcomes.

Ineligible expenditure may include:

• Routine operational or administrative costs.

• Activities that do not increase the existing level of service.

• Organisational overheads.

• Non-project-related salaries.

• Asset renewals or replacements.

• Depreciation, debt servicing, loan repayments.

• Retrospective expenditure.

• Political activities.

• Business case development, investigations and feasibility studies.

• Activities that are primarily the responsibility of Central Government.

• Ongoing maintenance and operational costs associated with infrastructure assets.

The Regional Council may provide funding for the maintenance of natural infrastructure when this is necessary to ensure the project succeeds. Examples include:

• Pest plant control

• Pest animal control

• Ecological restoration management

• Plant maintenance and replacement

• Site protection measures

• Site monitoring.

Funding for these activities will generally be limited to an agreed period and will not extend to ongoing operational expenditure, renewals, maintenance programmes or enduring management costs.

Applications are reviewed to ensure:

• They have been submitted before the closing date.

• All required sections of the application form have been completed.

• The applicant and proposed project meet the fund's eligibility requirements.

Applications that do not meet the screening requirements will not progress to assessment.

Staff will assess the eligible applications against the fund's criteria. External advisors may be engaged where additional expertise is required.

Key assessment areas include:

• Strategic alignment: How well the project supports the purpose and objectives of the Regional Benefit Fund.

• Deliverability and value for money: The project's feasibility, budget, co-funding arrangements, delivery approach, timeframe, organisational capability, and evidence supporting the proposed outcomes.

Following assessment, staff prepare recommendations to inform the shortlisting process.

Council will consider the assessment outcomes and decide which applications will proceed to the next stage.

Applications may:

• Not be shortlisted for further consideration.

• Progress to full assessment and due diligence.

• Progress to full assessment and due diligence, subject to additional information being provided.

Depending on the project's scale, complexity, and funding request, applicants may be asked to provide further information such as a business case, feasibility study, or technical assessment.

Applicants will be advised of the outcome of the shortlisting process.

Shortlisted applications undergo a more detailed review to assess the project's viability, benefits, and overall value.

This may include consideration of:

• Project outcomes, costs, and value for money.

• The applicant's financial position and funding requirements.

• Alternative funding options that have been explored.

• The applicant's track record in delivering similar projects.

• Project risks and proposed mitigation measures.

• Governance, management, and delivery arrangements.

• Long-term operation, maintenance, and sustainability.

We may also consider broader factors such as long-term financial prudence, fairness of funding allocation over time, potential funding precedents, and the overall balance of projects supported through the Regional Benefit Fund.

Following the full assessment and due diligence, staff will present their recommendations and assessment findings to Councillors.

Councillors are the final decision makers for all Regional Benefit Fund allocations. While they may consider advice from staff, assessors, or advisory groups, funding decisions remain at their discretion.

Successful applications may be approved subject to specific funding conditions.