2021-12-07 Planning & Environment Committee Meeting Agenda - Updated

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               7 DECEMBER 2021


2.   Assessment
Applications for the Environment Project Grants opened on 25 August 2021 and closed on 6
October 2021. Promotion for the grants included:
    An advertisement in Noosa Today
    On-line Grants information session
    E-newsletter to 300 not-for-profit community groups
    Specific email to all non-for-profit community groups on the database of the Community
     Development team
    Details published on Noosa Council’s website
All promotion was concurrent with the Community Grants Program and the Regional Arts
Development Fund.
Five (5) applications were received under the Climate Change Response grant category and one
(1) application was received for the Environment grant category.
The applications were checked for eligibility against the relevant Noosa Council Grants Policy
(Community Grants Policy) and Guidelines. Applications were then reviewed and assessed by a
member of the Environment Services Team with experience assessing grants and environmental
subject-matter expertise. These recommendations were moderated by the Environment Services
Manager and the Project Coordinator, Climate Change Adaption.
Four of the five applications received under the Climate Change Response category were
recommended for full funding, and one was not recommended for funding.
The one grant application received under the Environment category was recommended for full
funding.
The list of applications and recommendations for funding is provided in Attachment 1 of this report.
A total of $43,278 is recommended to be allocated to funding the grant applications received under
the Climate Change Response category as detailed in Attachment 1. The remaining allocation of
$6722 is recommended to be held over to the next funding round in 2022/23.
A total of $11,300 is recommended to be allocated to fund the grant application received under the
Environment category as detailed in Attachment 1. The Environment category was under
subscribed in this funding round. It recommended, that in subsequent funding rounds, the grants
are thoroughly promoted and NRM groups encouraged to apply.
3.   Review of Climate Change Response Grant Guidelines
As this is the first time the grant category of Climate Change Response, has been offered, initial
feedback has been received concerning lack of clarity regarding funding for sustainable
infrastructure on community buildings including solar systems and rainwater tanks. A review
process has already been commenced with relevant Council departments to provide a clearer
pathway for sustainability funding, whether through the Community Project or Climate Change
Response Grant programs. A separate report will be tabled to Council with clear recommendations
in preparation for the 2022/23 funding rounds.
Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 15 July 2021, Item 6, Page 4
That Council note the report by the Environment Services Manager to the Planning & Environment
Committee Meeting dated 6 July 2021 and approve the Environment Project Grants and
Environment Alliance funding recommendations for this round as outlined in Attachment 1 to the
report.




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