2019-02-12 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               12 FEBRUARY 2019


REPORT
1.    Background
Noosa Council has previously provided grants to community groups for environmental projects,
programs and events through the Community Grants Program. There has been no specific criteria
for the assessment of environmental projects, with applications for environmental initiatives being
assessed along with other non-environment community applications. Prior to 2018, when Council
made an initial allocation towards a specific Environment Grants program from the Environment
Levy, projects related to the environment had been funded out of General Rates, through the
Community Grants program.
In July 2018 the Environment Levy Policy was amended to allow for the provision of environment
grants. For the 2018/19 financial year, $235,000 was allocated from the Environment Levy to fund
a dedicated Environmental Grants Program. Grants that had an environment focus and were
previously funded through the Community Grants Program were to now be funded through the
Environment Levy and subject to dedicated criteria for the Environment Grants Program.
To support the allocation of funding towards an Environment Grants program, a new Environment
Grants Policy has been developed that will support the achievement of strategic outcomes and
targets outlined in the Environment Strategy.
2.    Environment Grants Program
The new Environment Grants Program will have three main funding streams;
A.    Environment Project Grants
These grants will be for projects, programs or events that align with Council’s key environment
strategies and plans and have a positive impact on the Noosa environment. They will typically be
completed within 12 months of commencement.
The minimum grant amount from Council under the Environment Project Grants program is $1,000
and maximum grant amount is $30,000.
Environment Project Grants will be advertised and assessed through the same process as
Council’s Community Grants program, as outlined in the Community Grants Guideline.
B.    Environment Organisation Alliance Grants
These grants will provide organisational support to community groups that are primarily focused
on environment activities. Successful applicants will receive an annual grant for up to three years
where:
    the primary purpose of the organisation aligns with purpose of the Environment Levy, to
      protect, enhance and increase the resilience of Noosa’s natural environment;
    the services provided by the organisation are of significant benefit to the Noosa community
      (beyond their membership base);
    the organisation’s services closely align with Council’s environmental strategic outcomes,
      identified in the Environment Strategy;
    the organisation can demonstrate value for money for all stakeholders; and
    the organisation can demonstrate the need for financial assistance from Noosa Council.
Applications for Environment Organisation Alliance Grants will follow the same process as other
Noosa Council alliance grants, as outlined in Community Grants Program Guideline – Three Year
Community Alliance.
C.    Multi-year Environment Collaborative Projects
Multi-year Environment Collaborative (MEC) Projects will support longer-term, larger-scale
strategic initiatives that align with the Environment Strategy and have a significant positive impact
on the Noosa Environment.

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