Deadline: 17-Dec-22
The Environment Support Grants offers up to $2,500 (GST exclusive) matching funding to incorporated community groups, organisations, and individuals to undertake environmental and sustainability projects within Corangamite Shire.
The Environmental Grants provide financial assistance to incorporated community groups, organisations and individuals to undertake environmental and sustainability projects on public and private land within Corangamite Shire.
In this special grants round, Council will be looking to fund projects related to sustainable agriculture and tackling climate change. Applicants will have a better chance at receiving funding if they can demonstrate how their project addresses climate change and contributes to sustainable agricultural practices.
Funding Information
- Funding is offered on a $1 for $1 basis up to $2,500 to incorporated community groups, organisations and individuals to undertake environmental and sustainability projects on public and private land within Corangamite Shire.
What will be funded?
- Council will consider applications from incorporated community groups, organisations and individuals to undertake projects with activities relating to the following outcomes:
- Climate change related projects
- Sustainable agriculture projects
- Weed control to protect and enhance environmental assets
- Protection and enhancement of remnant native vegetation
- An increase in the extent, condition and connectivity of native vegetation
- Improvements to soil health and water quality
- Waste reduction and education
- Increased community understanding of environmental and sustainability issues.
Funding Criteria
- All applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Ability to achieve direct environmental benefits, reduce weeds and/or reductions in energy/water use (30%)
- Ability to build community capacity and foster greater understanding of environmental issues (15%)
- Level of community support and broader public benefit (15%)
- Value for money, including the value of project contributions provided by the applicant (15%)
- Level of demonstrated project planning and ability for the project to be sustained beyond the funding term (25%).
Eligibility Criteria
- All applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Community groups and organisations must be incorporated and not-for profit
- Groups may submit multiple applications per financial year but may only submit one application per project
- Individuals are eligible to apply but may only submit one application per financial year
- Government organisations and agencies are not eligible to apply; however, kindergartens, Committees of Management, Special Committees and other community committees are eligible
- Primary and secondary schools are eligible to apply for environmental projects which are completed fully within the Corangamite Shire. They are not eligible to apply for energy and water efficiency items (e.g. solar panels, light fittings, insulation) or projects that should otherwise form part of the normal educational curriculum
- Applicants must match the requested funding through either cash contributions or in-kind contributions (e.g. volunteer labour)
- The number of times an applicant has previously received funding through the Environment Support Grant will be considered during the assessment process. Council may choose not to fund projects by applicants who have previously received funding should the program be oversubscribed
- For community facilities, applicants must be the owner of the building/facility or have written consent from the owner
- If the community facility is a Council-owned building, the applicant must discuss the project with Corangamite Shire’s Facilities and Recreation Manager prior to submitting the application
- Community environmental projects will be considered ineligible if they do not attempt to use electronic forms of communication, in addition to traditional paper methods.
Ineligible
- Council will not provide funding for the following:
- Events or Festivals
- An applicant whose project has received Corangamite Shire funding for the same activity within the same financial year, including budget allocation or other grant funding
- An applicant that has overdue debts to the Corangamite Shire
- An applicant that has failed to provide satisfactory acquittal reporting from any previous Corangamite Shire funding
- An applicant whose project does not provide capacity for an environmental benefit and/or will have a detrimental environmental impact
- Projects that provide direct financial benefit to a commercial business or individual
- Projects outside of the Corangamite Shire
- Works that have already commenced
- Energy and water efficiency improvements to schools and facilities that are not publicly accessible
- Projects that increase energy and water use (such as the installation of new infrastructure)
- The purchase of land
- Revegetation that is required as a condition of a planning permit or illegal vegetation clearing
- Revegetation projects using plants that are not native to the local area
- Revegetation projects or plantings that are for amenity and/or business purposes only
- Control of weeds on private land that are already the statutory responsibility of the project applicant
- Projects that are more suitably funded by another organisation or agency
- An applicant whose project is linked in any way to a political party, political organisation, or political agenda
- Applicant labour and hire charges for applicant-owned equipment, which should be shown as an in-kind contribution
For more information, visit https://www.corangamite.vic.gov.au/Community/Grants-and-funding/Environment-Support-Grants-Program
