Environmental Grants Program - Gympie Regional Council

Environmental Grants Program 2021/2022

Through the Environmental Grants Program, Council provides financial assistance to eligible community organisations to deliver projects which respond to the four environment priorities set out in Council’s Environment Strategy:

Biodiversity and habitat protection
Adapting to a changing climate and natural hazard management
Improving land management practices that influence water quality and waterway health
Energy efficiency and the addition of renewable energy

Funding Allocated

Council has allocated a total of $175,000 for environment grants in 2021/2022.

Approximately $87,500 is available for Round 1.

Grant categories

Projects must align with one or more of the following categories:

Environmental education and awareness
Environmental surveys, monitoring and research
Maintenance or improvements at existing revegetation sites on State Government and Council owned or managed properties including weed removal on Council owned or managed properties
New rehabilitation/revegetation works on State Government and Council owned or managed properties
Breeding and distribution of biological control agents
Food, supplies and services for community groups who rehabilitate native fauna
Small capital purchases used for surveys, monitoring, research or improvement of the natural environment (these items cannot be used for commercial activities that might be undertaken by the not-for-profit group)
Calibration or servicing of small capital items (these items cannot be used for commercial activities that might be undertaken by the not-for-profit group)

Grant Amounts

Organisations are limited to a maximum grant of $20,000 per round.

Applications can include eligible projects across one or more of the environment grant categories. For example:

$10,000 for Environmental Education and Awareness
$2,000 for Food supplies for fauna
$8,000 for New rehabilitation/revegetation works on State Government and Council owned or managed properties

Small capital purchases used for surveys, monitoring, research or improvement of the natural environment – maximum value of $5,000 for purchases as part of grant request.

A maximum of $15,000 has been allocated in each round for projects in the category “Food, supplies and services for community groups who rehabilitate native fauna”.

Who can apply

Community organisations that:

are an incorporated not-for-profit community organisation, or have an auspice arrangement with an incorporated not-for-profit community organisation (including not-for-profit co-operatives and companies limited by guarantee) with a focus on the environment or natural resource management or would like to contribute to Council’s Environment Strategy outcomes;
demonstrate an ability to deliver on ground and other environmental outcomes in a timely, safe and responsible manner;
work in partnership with Council with the knowledge that Council makes the final decisions about the project;
have access to a group of volunteers;
hold $20M public liability insurance and other forms of insurance relevant to the project (see Insurance Coverage for External Parties Policy);
have no outstanding debt with Council;
are based in, or provide direct benefits to, the Gympie region.

When to apply

Funding Round

Applications Open

Applications Close

Outcome Advised

Project delivery timeframe

Round 1

1 August 2021

30 August 2021

30 October 2021*

1 November 2021 to

31 March 2022

Round 2

1 February 2022

4 March 2022

30 April 2022*

1 May 2022 to

30 September 2022

*Outcome advise date may change depending on Council meeting dates.

Round 1 Grants Information Sessions – Register now!

Please attend one of the Grant Information Sessions to find out more about Council’s Grants Programs.

In person

Friday 6 August, 12:30pm to 2:30pm at The Pavilion, Gympie Showgrounds
Monday 9 August, 5pm to 7pm at The Pavilion, Gympie Showgrounds

Online

Monday 9 August, 10am to 11am online
Wednesday 18 August, 5pm - 6pm online

How to apply

Before preparing your application, download and read the Environmental Grants Program 2021/2022 Guidelines.
Groups are encouraged to attend a Grants Information Session.
All applications must be submitted online via the Smarty Grants Portal.
No late or incomplete applications will be accepted.

Apply Here

Reporting requirements

Grant recipients must complete an online acquittal report within four (4) weeks of the project completion date, unless an extension is provided in writing by Council. Grant recipients must attach copies of tax invoices to demonstrate that the grant funds have been used in accordance with the funding agreement.