Currently open ….

Community Action Grants

The 2012-13 round of these small grants component of the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative is now open. Investment proposals will be sought from environmental, Indigenous, Landcare, Coastcare and sustainable agriculture community groups for grants of between $5,000 and $20,000. Closes March 27th 2012

For further information about Community Action Grants visit

http://www.nrm.gov.au/funding/cag/index.html or call 1800 552 008 or email

communityactiongrants@nrm.gov.au

NRCMA Incentives program 2012-13 now open…

The Northern Rivers CMA Incentive Program is an annual funding program whereby individuals, groups, NRM organisations and agencies are invited to submit applications (funding requests) to perform on ground natural resource management works or planning. The Program was developed to engage and support the community in maintaining and restoring our northern rivers landscapes.

The Program is competitive with all applications needing to be submitted by a specified closing date and time. Applications are assessed and scored against a number of different criteria, with the highest ranking proposals short listed for further verification. If the verification is satisfactory the proposal is recommended for funding.

The amount of money offered through the Incentive Program, the priorities and the types of projects the Program supports can change each year it is advertised. Accordingly, Guidelines are developed each year, detailing specific eligibility and assessment criteria. Successful Incentive Program projects have their funds delivered through a contract or agreement and are generally completed within a one to two year time frame. Landholders are responsible for the maintenance of the funded works for the remainder of their agreement term.

Public Information Sessions

Seven half-day workshops to assist those who have never applied to the Incentive Program before. An opportunity to learn about the competitive process, NRCMA priorities, Landholder Agreements, this year’s funding categories and their Guidelines and Application forms. All workshops will run from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm. Light morning tea refreshments will be supplied.

Locations and dates

• Bellingen: 27^th March – Bellingen Uniting Church Hall, cnr Hyde and Ford Streets, Bellingen, NSW 2454
• Wauchope: 28^th March - Wauchope Country Club,24 King Street, Wauchope NSW 2446
• Walcha: 29^th March - Walcha Council Chambers, 2W Hamilton Street, Walcha NSW 2354
• Tenterfield: 30^th March - Steinbrook Hall,Steinbrook Hall Road, Steinbrook NSW 2372
• Grafton: 2^nd April - Grafton Community Centre,59 Duke Street Grafton NSW 2460
• Murwillumbah: 3^rd April - Canvas and Kettle Room, Civic & Cultural Centre Tumbulgum Road, Murwillumbah NSW 2484
• Casino: 4^th April - Casino Community and Cultural Centre, 35 Walker Street Casino NSW 2470

Please register your attendance at a location by either emailing northern@cma.nsw.gov.au, telephoning the Alstonville NRCMA office on Ph (02)66 270170 (02)66 270170 or registering online.

For application forms and guidelines go to http://www.northern.cma.nsw.gov.au/get-involved/funding/2012-incentive-program/incentives-apply

General Landcare funding information

The three levels of government in Australia offer financial support for improved environmental management of public and private land. All these schemes have their own guidelines, timelines and application forms.

If you are thinking about applying for project funding we recommend you look at the attached Powerpoint presentation which explains the planning and processes for writing funding applications. We are happy to help landholders develop projects and funding applications. GET THAT GRANT

Bellinger Landcare Inc offers help with project development and application writing. For an application to have a good chance of success ,the project needs to be planned well. This takes time and we encourage all interested landholders to plan their projects well in advance of any funding deadlines and to research the funding agencies guidelines and criteria first.

This page is updated regularly to reflect funding opportunities as they come up.

Australian Government Funding

Riverbank erosion, Bielsdown River

The Australian Government funds Landcare projects through the Caring for our Country and Clean Energy Futures program. Investment in Caring for our Country projects is guided by a Business Plan and projects need to be targetted towards the Australian Government priorities identified in the plan. We would advise contacting the Landcare office for further information if you have a project idea or look at the Business Plan on the Caring for our Country website (link in Useful Links Box).

New in 2011 is funding throgh a number of Clean Energy Future Land Sector package programs. These include Action on the Ground and the Biodiveristy Fund (sse above for details)

State Government Funding

The key NSW State environmental funding body for Landcare and other natural resource management projects is the Environmental Trust. The Trust’s main programs are Restoration and Rehabilitation, Eco Schools, Environmental Education and the Protecting our Places Aboriginal natural resource management program. The programs are open annually, usually in May and successful projects are announced in December. See the link in the Useful Links Box for further details.

Please note that the Trust is changing the cycle of funding for the Restoration and Rehabilitation Program which will allow projects to run by financial year i.e. commencing on 1 July each year and continuing for up to a maximum of three years. This change will defer the call for applications to this program until mid 2011 (exact dates to be confirmed). It is anticipated that organisations will be advised of the outcome of their applications around April each year. This should assist all organisations, but particularly state and local government organisations to better commit and manage their budgets as first payments will be received early in the financial year, on the signing of a grant agreement as is the current requirement.

Regional Funding

The Northern Rivers CMA is also an important source pf project funding for Landcare works. Projects are posted on the NRCMA website (link in Useful Links Box) and are  contracted to organisations (such as Bellinger Landcare) as well as individuals threough the annual Incentives Program. Funding for local projects are ususally advertised and delivered locally by the contracting organsiations. Contact the Landcare Office for current projects running in the Bellinger/Dorrigo areas. The NRCMA also publishes a useful monthly listing of funding opportunities on their website in the e-news bulletin.

Local Government Funding

Bellingen Shire Council has an annual round of community projects funded under the Environmental Levy. See the application form in the Useful Links Box or contact Council for for information on availablity.

Landcare Australia Ltd

LAL offers a number of small scale grant opportunites through arrangements with its business partners. Check out their website at Landcare Australia Ltd.