Deadline: 10-Jun-25
The Air Quality Improvement Precincts (AQIP) Grant Program aims to support initiatives that improve air quality in Metropolitan Melbourne’s Outer West and Inner West Air Quality Improvement Precinct, identified as 2 of Victoria’s air pollution “hot spots”.
The Victorian Government is funding these grants to address the issues of poor air quality. The primary goal of the AQIP program is to reduce air pollution in areas with poor air quality, particularly in urban regions affected by industrial, transport, and other pollution sources.
Funding Information
- The Victorian Government is investing up to $1 million through the Air Quality Improvement Precincts program. There is no cap on funds that applicants can apply for. Projects must be completed by 30 June 2026.
What might be funded?
- Projects must be implemented within, or adjacent to the AQIP areas and demonstrate clear benefits to the air quality of the region.
- Projects must have a measurable impact on reducing air pollution or mitigating its effects, such as by reducing emissions, enhancing monitoring systems, or fostering community awareness and behaviour change
- Stream 1: Capital works and infrastructure or asset upgrades:
- Projects funded under this Stream will contribute toward improving air quality through capital, technological, or infrastructural works or upgrades. Interventions will result in minimising, mitigating or eliminating localised PM2.5 or PM10 emissions produced through smoke or dust.
- Stream 2: Innovation and collaboration:
- Projects funded under this stream will support innovative technologies to reducing localised air pollution or support collaborations across groups/individuals.
- Stream 3: Place-based strategies or initiatives:
- Developing/implementing place-based strategies or initiatives, aimed at improving capacity to identify and manage sources of air pollution.
What will not be funded?
- The AQIP program will not fund the following activities:
- the purchase of land
- routine or ongoing maintenance activities
- activities that have already started
- where duplicate services are in operation or planned for in a targeted community
- recurrent operating costs, for example rent and utility costs, and/or activities establishing expectations of ongoing funding
- activities located outside the State of Victoria
- Projects undertaken to comply with regulation or a regulatory notice or order
- Projects that have received funding or support for the same activities from other sources, including other grant programs
- Projects that do not meet regulatory or planning requirements. The following costs are ineligible for funding:
- All expenditure items that are not directly related to the project
- Operational expenses that are considered as ongoing costs
- Personal expenses
- Lease or purchase of land
- Routine or cyclical maintenance works
- Repair of facilities damaged by vandalism, fire or other natural disasters where damage should be covered by insurance
- Internal project management costs
- Pre-construction (site preparation) such as site clearing, earthworks or site accessibility works
Eligibility Criteria
- This round of AQIP grants is open to the below organisations, either located in or whose projects significantly benefit Victoria’s Inner or Outer West Precincts, both at the time of application and for the project’s duration:
- Municipal councils
- Citizen science groups connected to established non-government programs, organisations or associations with an air quality purpose, connection or interest
- Peak bodies and incorporated associations/organisations with an air quality purpose, connection or interest
- Research/academic institutions
- Not-for-profit incorporated associations
- Private and non-government organisations, including small business and associated business groups
- Schools.
- Applicants must:
- Have a current Australian Business Number (ABN). If the applicant is a Trust, the Trust asthe trading entity must meet this requirement. If the applicant is a Citizen Science Group, the associated program, organisation or association must meet this requirement
- be an incorporated body, cooperative or association (including business associations)
- Be able to demonstrate financial viability to undertake the project
- Agree to comply with the Terms of Participation in Grant Programs
- Agree to comply with the Funding AgreementTerms and Conditions
- Eligible businesses may apply either as a single organisation or as a Collaborative Partnership involving multiple businesses. If applying as a Collaborative Partnership, a Lead Applicant must be designated. The Lead Applicant serves as the responsible Contracting Party, accountable for both the application and project delivery, including the coordination of Collaborative Partners. Grant funding will be received solely by the Lead Applicant. Applicants (and their Related Entities and, if applicable, their Project Partners and/or Project Participants) must:
- have had no Environmental, Safety or Workplace Breaches in the last five years or, if there was a breach, we may assess that the Applicant’s breach poses a satisfactory level of risk
- have not been the subject of an enforceable undertaking or successful litigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman for a breach of the Fair Work Act 2009 or a fair work instrument within the last five years
- demonstrate financial capability to undertake the project
- have adequate insurance as outlined in the funding agreement such as:
- Public liability $10M minimum
- Professional indemnity $5M minimum
- WorkCover
- have not failed to satisfactorily progress or complete previous projects funded by DEECA within funding program timelines and without sufficient reason
- manage any conflicts of interest adequately.
- Applicants who are unincorporated entities can still apply for funding but must operate under an Auspice organisation that meets the eligibility. An Auspice organisation will be required to enter the Common Funding Agreement and agree to provide:
- financial management of the grant funds
- accountability for project deliverables and acquittal
- responsibility for the project’s occupational health and safety requirements
- a letter of support from the Auspice organisation agreeing to auspice the project application.
- Applicants who are unincorporated entities can still apply for funding but must operate under an Auspice organisation that meets the eligibility. An Auspice organisation will be required to enter the Common Funding Agreement and agree to provide:
- financial management of the grant funds
- accountability for project deliverables and acquittal
- responsibility for the project’s occupational health and safety requirements
- a letter of support from the Auspice organisation agreeing to auspice the project application.
For more information, visit DEECA.