The West Coast Regional Council has put in a bid for $32.8million from the Government’s economic recovery infrastructure fund for flood protection work. All of the projects were pretty much ready to go, council chief executive Mike Meehan said. The Westport stopbank project was the only one the council did not yet have consents for. The council has also submitted several environmental projects for funding, following a pitch by the Department of Conservation for $1billion for conservation projects estimated to create 7000 jobs. The Government was due to sign off on its budget by May 14, and the council was hoping to hear then if the West Coast projects had been approved, Mr Meehan said.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 01, 2020 16:30 UTC