Deadline: 9-Mar-23
The Australian Government is inviting applications for Reducing Light Pollution in Coastal Communities Grant Program that provides funding to promote management of light pollution in priority coastal areas for the benefit of Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act) listed marine turtles, seabirds and migratory shorebirds.
Objectives
- The objectives of the program are to:
- raise community awareness of the potential impacts of light pollution on coastal and marine environments and the species that rely on them
- support the development and implementation of light management policies and practices at the local level for the benefit of EPBC Act listed marine turtles, seabirds and shorebirds
- facilitate retrofitting and/or installing best practice wildlife-sensitive lighting systems to reduce light pollution adjacent to marine turtle nesting beaches, seabird rockeries, or migratory shorebird roosting sites.
Funding Information
- $15,000 to $50,000 covering up to 100% of eligible project expenditure.
Outcomes
- The intended outcomes of the program are:
- an increased recognition of the benefits of reducing light pollution
- the reduction of light pollution at ecologically sensitive sites to support conservation and recovery of EPBC listed marine turtles, seabirds and shorebirds
- the support of local communities to ensure best practise light management practices are established and progressed into the future.
Eligible Projects
- Your project must:
- support the development and implementation of light management policies and practices at a local level for the benefit of EPBC Act listed marine turtles, seabirds and shorebirds
- have at least $15,000 in eligible expenditure.
Eligibility Criteria
- You can apply if you:
- have an Australian business number (ABN) and are one of the following entities:
- an Australian local government agency
- an entity incorporated in Australia (this includes Indigenous organisations registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations)
- a registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land council
- an Australian state/territory government agency or body
- publicly funded research organisation.
Eligible Expenditure
- You can use this grant funding for:
- salaries and on-costs (maximum of 30 percent) for personnel directly employed in delivering the project activities (on a pro-rata basis relative to their time commitment)
- contractor costs or expert advice
- costs for communication and engagement activities including promotional activities
- costs associated with managing collaborations and partnerships with Traditional Owners, ranger groups, industry and/or the local community
- costs associated to obtaining planning, environmental or other regulatory approvals during the project period
- purchase or hire of equipment, materials and supplies to support on-ground activities (including technologies or devices, first aid and personal protective equipment to deliver eligible project activities)
- venue/facility hire required to deliver eligible project activities
- domestic travel (eligible air transportation is limited to the economy class fare for each sector travelled; where non-economy class air transport is used only the equivalent of an economy fare for that sector is eligible expenditure. Where non-economy class air transport is used, the grantee will require evidence showing what an economy air fare costs at the time of travel)
- contingency costs of up to a maximum of 10 percent of the eligible project costs. Note that they make payments based on actual costs incurred
- costs of project related administration, planning, consultation, coordination, monitoring and reporting installation of equipment and infrastructure as part of eligible project activities.
- Not all expenditure on your project may be eligible for grant funding. The Program Delegate (who is a senior responsible officer within the department with responsibility for administering the program) makes the final decision on what is eligible expenditure and may give additional guidance on eligible expenditure if required.
Ineligible Activities
- Activities not supported by the program include:
- light management for wildlife that does not include management for marine turtles, migratory shorebirds or seabirds
- management of lighting that is not a problem for EPBC listed marine turtles, shorebirds and seabirds
- light management designed solely for the benefit of humans
- any activities occurring outside the duration of the project period
- development of a light management plan where environmental approval conditions require the development of a light management plan.
For more information, visit Reducing Light Pollution in Coastal Communities.