Bright farm ideas get boost

Land-based aquaculture using dairy farm effluent, cut flowers as an alternative income generator for Rotorua dairy farmers, and smart phone applications for bus timetables are being funded by the bay of Plenty Regional Council's new $30,000 innovation fund.
The Bright Ideas Innovation Fund was established in August 2010 to encourage staff to think creatively and to improve the value and outcomes of the council's work. The fund received 12 applications, and six projects have been selected for funding.
Rivers operations manager Bruce Crabbe's idea, which has received $7,500, is to use dairy effluent ponds to initiate a food chain to support production of fish for commercial production or to replenish native fish stocks.
Environmental scientist Jonathan Freeman's $7,500 idea is to identify alternative horticultural land uses such as growing cut flowers to encourage reduction of high nitrate use and maintain economic viability for dairy farmers. Project Implementation Officer Sam Weiss' $7000 idea is a design for a retro-fitted wastewater treatment system which would meet permitted water quality requirements as a cheaper option than an advanced reticulated system.
Sustainable farming advisor John Paterson's $5000 idea is for an automated co-ordination system to more efficiently use the Regional Council's vehicles. Staff would be able to check where and when other staff are travelling between the Council's offices to save duplication.
Wiki Mooney's $2000 idea is for motivational speaker Marcus Akuhata Brown to speak to staff to encourage them to push beyond their boundaries.
Transport operations officer Mike Furniss and senior transport planner Emlyn Hatch's $1000 idea is to engage Bay of Plenty Polytech technology students to develop smart phone applications or text messaging for bus network information. Corporate services group manager Brian Trott said a review system was in place to track each project's performance.