greener neighbourhoods grants program
TRANSCRIPT
Greener Neighbourhoods
Grants Program
Application guidelines 2021/22
Overview
The Greener Neighbourhoods Grants
program supports local councils* to
keep our suburban streets and open
space green and cool.
Funds are provided to support local council projects
that increase tree canopy and green cover and lead to
on-ground benefits for local communities and native
fauna.
The 2021/22 round of funding is now open
with up to $2 million available.
* Councils in the Green Adelaide region and regional cities with populations over 10,000 people are eligible
to apply for funding (see Appendix for list).
Key dates
Applications open: 1 August 2021
Applications close: 10 September 2021
Assessment period: Oct-Nov 2021
Notification outcome: December 2021
1 Greener Neighbourhoods Grants Program Application Guidelines
Purpose and
objectives
Funding
The Greener Neighbourhoods Grants
program aims to support local councils to
keep our suburban streets and open space
green and cool.
Benefits of greening and cooling our neighbourhoods
include:
• improved social, health and wellbeing outcomes
through connecting communities and being
surrounded by nature
• improved biodiversity and environmental outcomes
through increased habitat and food supplies for local
wildlife
• reduction of stormwater and rainwater runoff
through filtering and absorption
• improved air quality and increased carbon
sequestration
• increased liveability of neighbourhoods and increased
property values.
The program will contribute to the achievement of the
following objectives:
• progress against the target in the 30 Year Plan for
Greater Adelaide to increase urban green cover by
20 per cent by 2045, or other greening targets as
applicable for regional cities
• reduction of the urban heat island effect across
metropolitan Adelaide and regional cities
• creation of habitat for wildlife and improving natural
character in the urban environment
• improved community health and wellbeing
• involvement of the local community and First Nations
people in greening neighbourhoods.
Up to $2 million is available in the 2021/22
round of funding.
This funding is be available to eligible councils (see Appendix)
via a competitive grant process.
Councils are required to match the funding granted on a
dollar-for-dollar basis. Both cash and in-kind contributions
will be considered.
Applications between $15,000 and up to a maximum of
$200,000 are encouraged. Councils may submit applications
for multiple projects, and should consider their ability to
match requested funding for all projects.
Council contribution
Council co-funding contribution could consist of
co-contributions from community groups and in-kind works.
If council contribution includes in-kind works this will need
to be identified within the project budget breakdown. This
could be delivered through in-kind support and partnerships
with community, non-government organisations or any
relevant government agencies.
External funding and strategic
partnerships and collaboration
The program encourages partnerships to achieve the grant
program objectives. Councils should consider other external
funding opportunities and seek partner organisations with
matching objectives.
Other sources of grant funding could include:
• other state and Commonwealth
government grant funding programs
• partnerships with other councils
to achieve regional priorities.
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Assessment and eligibility criteria
Assessment criteria
The grants are open to eligible local councils (see Appendix)
for projects on public land. Consideration will also be given
to projects which will underpin future on-ground works on
public land, such as mapping.
Councils may submit multiple applications, however multi-
benefit projects will be weighted higher.
Priority will be given to projects that address the program
objectives by meeting one or more of the following
assessment criteria:
Strategic alignment
• Demonstrate relevance to local council strategic
planning and policy.
• Provide for community benefits in areas with
low canopy cover, high urban heat island effect,
or high socio-economic vulnerability (provide
evidence such as strategic plans or mapping).
• Demonstrate increases in tree canopy cover and
contribute to the 30 Year Plan for Greater
Adelaide greening targets or other greening
targets as applicable for regional cities.
• Demonstrate involvement and/or connection of
communities to their environment.
• Demonstrate increased protection or
enhancement of local biodiversity, habitat for
wildlife and/or improved natural character in the
urban environment.
Engagement
• Involve a partnership arrangement with First
Nations, community groups, non-government
organisations, other government agencies, or
other third parties. This could include
co-funding or in-kind support. For example,
community planting and maintenance, or
recognising and valuing the knowledge and
heritage of First Nations people through
engagement, design and implementation.
Viability
• Establish a monitoring and evaluation program.
• Demonstrate appropriate risk identification and
management.
• Demonstrate long term future support and
maintenance. For example, providing evidence
of future asset management requirements.
Eligibility criteria
The following works are not eligible for funding:
• Projects where works or material purchases
have commenced prior to grant funding
approval as part of an existing project, unless
the funding request is for an additional
enhancement of the existing project (projects
where work such as concept designs, feasibility
studies and master planning have been
completed are eligible for funding subject to
satisfying other criteria).
• Projects that are considered to be part of
council’s usual ongoing maintenance and
management of a site, including ongoing street
tree management or asset maintenance
(management and maintenance of assets
created with grant funding, undertaken within
the grant funding period, is permitted as part of
the in-kind contribution).
• Road works including routine upgrading of
footpaths, kerbs and carparks.
• Council administration, resource and project
management costs associated with delivery of
the project or purchase of equipment (this is
permitted as part of the in-kind contribution).
• Marketing and promotion, including
publications, branding, artwork or signage
(unless it is educational/interpretive in nature).
• Land purchase for open space.
• Projects on land which the public cannot access
or which require the public to pay a fee to
access.
• Broad-scale revegetation projects.
• Development of a neighbourhood tree plan or
strategy or similar.
• Project contingency budget (also not eligible as
part of the in-kind contribution).
3 Greener Neighbourhoods Grants Program Application Guidelines
Project types
and examples
Note that priority for funding will be
given to projects aimed at planting
street trees and planting in open space
with high community use and benefit.
The types of projects that could receive
funding include:
• On-ground capital works. This
could include planting trees,
shrubs and grass to increase
shade and cool streets and open
spaces with a focus on
connecting a network of green
corridors and spaces.
It could also include installing
new water sensitive urban
design and green infrastructure
features to support new or
existing greening (for example,
stormwater inlets, tree pits, root
ball support and drainage).
• Activating underutilised public
spaces. This could be through
maintaining and creating habitat
for flora and fauna (e.g. public
building rooftops, laneways,
plazas and between buildings).
It should demonstrate
integration and connection
across neighbourhoods and
landscapes through designs
which improve the natural
character of an area.
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5 Greener Neighbourhoods Grants Program Application Guidelines
Application process Councils can submit an application for
funding via the Department for
Environment and Water’s online Grant
Management System.
The online grant management system
(https://gmsportal.environment.sa.gov.au) allows you to
track your application throughout the grant process. It is
important to ensure that all supporting documents are
uploaded.
Assessment process Applications will be assessed by a panel
comprised of Department for Environment
and Water staff and grants will be approved
by the Minister for Environment and Water.
While an application may meet the assessment criteria,
this does not guarantee that a grant will be awarded and
successful applicants may not receive funding to the full
amount requested.
Priority will be given to projects that:
• provide a high level of value for money based on
the scale and impact of the project
• are additional to existing council projects
• utilise strategic partnerships and collaborations
• are located in areas with low canopy cover, high
urban heat island effects, or high socio-economic
vulnerability (evidence such as tree canopy and
urban heat island mapping should be provided
where possible)
• include clear timelines, milestones and
management of potential risks for the proposed
project
• include new on-ground infrastructure
• demonstrate multiple benefits in achieving the
program objectives.
The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) may
work with local councils to refine project design,
partnerships, scope and scale before entering into a
grant agreement.
All councils will be formally advised on the outcome of
their application in writing. DEW staff will provide verbal
feedback to unsuccessful grant applicants by request.
The decision by the assessment panel and Minister for
Environment and Water is final and cannot be appealed.
DEW reserves all rights to issuing grants under this
program. The number of grants funded and the value of
the grants will be at the discretion of DEW.
KEY DATES ACTION
1 August 2021 Applications open
Via online portal
10 September 2021 Applications close (at 5pm
ACST)
Oct-Nov 2021 Independent panel assessment
Projects assessed against criteria.
Applicants advised of outcomes.
December 2021 Grant agreements established
Commencement of reporting
for successful projects.
Conditions
• Applicants must contribute a minimum of equal
funding, up to a maximum of $200,000 per
application. If there is more than one funding
contributor, DEW will provide up to 50 per cent of the
total funding sought.
For example, local council, 40 per cent; community
group, 10 per cent; DEW, 50 per cent. Each
application should clearly outline the nature of any
partnerships and the respective functions each group
will undertake as part of the proposed project. A lead
council should be identified as the contact for
correspondence, reporting and overall responsibility
for the project.
• Successful councils will enter into a
grant agreement which outlines:
- conditions of funding
- key outcomes
- project and grant payment milestones
- data sharing agreement
- acknowledgement of grant in any
media/promotional material
- sharing of any media/promotional opportunities
- process for any project variation requests and extensions
- any other terms and conditions for the project
- responsibility for public liability insurance.
• Projects must begin within 3 months and be finalised
within 18 months of formalising the grant agreement.
Commencement may include project planning and/or
management, a tender process, ordering of plants,
community consultation or tree planting.
• Councils must agree to adopt responsibility for all of
the created assets, including all ongoing operational
and maintenance costs beyond the grant timeframe.
• All project variations such as timing and project outcomes
must be formally approved by DEW in writing.
Reporting and
monitoring
Reporting on project progress and achievement of
milestones will be required on an ongoing basis until
the project is completed.
Grant recipients will be required to submit a final report outlining
outcomes and financial acquittal of funds within 30 business days
from the end date of the project. The final report should be
accompanied by any data or outputs created and evidence of
project completion, such as images.
Any underspend is to be returned to the DEW in accordance with
the details of the grant agreement.
Any public promotional opportunities should be offered
to all partners.
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APPENDIX – List of eligible councils
1. City of Playford
2. City of Salisbury
3. City of Tea Tree Gully
4. City of Port Adelaide Enfield
5. Campbelltown City Council
6. City of Charles Sturt
7. City of Prospect
8. Town of Walkerville
9. City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters
10. City of West Torrens
11. City of Adelaide
12. City of Burnside
13. City of Unley
14. City of Holdfast Bay
15. City of Marion
16. City of Mitcham
17. City of Onkaparinga
18. Town of Gawler
19. Mount Barker District Council
20. City of Mount Gambier
21. Rural City of Murray Bridge
22. City of Victor Harbor
23. Port Pirie Regional Council
24. Port Augusta City Council
25. City of Whyalla
26. City of Port Lincoln
Contact us
Green Adelaide
Department for Environment and Water
P. (08) 8463 3855
greenadelaide.sa.gov.au