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FURTHER REPORT - CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE GRANTS (ROUND 6) (referred from General Committee dated 9 June 2026 Item 7.14) · Report
ORDINARY MEETING 18 JUNE 2026
12.2 FURTHER REPORT - CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE GRANTS (ROUND
6) (referred from General Committee dated 9 June 2026 Item 7.14)
Author Sustainability and Climate Change Coordinator, Shayan Barmand
Strategy & Sustainability | Strategy and Environment
Index 41.23 Climate Change
Attachments 1. Ordinary Committee Report_Climate Change Grants 2026_Attachment
1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
At the General Committee Meeting dated 9 June 2026 a report was presented providing an overview
of the applications received for the Environment Project Grants (Round 21) and the Climate Change
Response Grants (Round 6) to seek Council approval for the allocation of funding to recommended
projects.
Council requested that the matters be separated into two reports and brought back to the Ordinary
Meeting, with each grant detailed individually. This approach enables Councillors to declare a conflict
of interest, if required, in relation to one report only, and, where appropriate, remain in the meeting
for consideration of the other.
This further report recommends the allocation of the Climate Change Response Grants (Round 6)
only, to the successful applicants as detailed in the attached schedule. Minor amendments have
been made to the body of this report, including fixing a typographical error in the attachment.
RECOMMENDATION
That Council:
A. Note the report by the Environmental Services Manager to the General Committee Meeting dated
9 June 2026 and the Further Report by the Sustainability and Climate Change Coordinator to the
Ordinary Meeting dated 18 June 2026 regarding applications received for the Climate Change
Response Grants (Round 6); and
B. Approve the allocation of funding, totalling $48,869.06, to the following organisations for the
Climate Change Response Grants for FY2026/27:
i. $14,820.00 to The Trustee for the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust for the Future Tide -
2027 Noosa Youth Climate Summit;
ii. $12,899.06 to Zero Emissions Noosa Inc. for the Swap the Drive: Supporting Modal Shift
From Cars To Bikes program;
iii. $11,150.00 to the Noosa Integrated Catchment Association Inc. for the Get Climate-
ready with Noosa Native Plants project; and
iv. $10,000 to Zero Emissions Noosa Inc. for the Solar on Low Income Homes project.
REPORT
Climate Change Response Grants
Noosa Council's Climate Change Response Grants aim to advance the implementation of the
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ORDINARY MEETING 18 JUNE 2026
Climate Change Response Plan, the Coastal Hazards Adaptation Plan and the Regional Climate
Action Roadmap. Subject to budget outcomes, the current total FY26/27 budget for the Climate
Change Response Grants is $50,000.00. The Climate Change Response Grants are funded by
general rates and this is the sixth round of annual grant funding to date.
Nine applications were received for the current round for a funding request totalling $145,753.06,
and a total combined project value of $269,054.06. These figures illustrate the strong desire for
support from community as well as a willingness to co-invest in measures that reduce emissions
(which cause climate change) and adapt to growing climate change impacts by building resilience.
It is noted that the calibre of grants received in this round was strong and represented actions across
emissions reduction and adaptation. The projects all reflected well against the themes of the Climate
Change Response Plan.
In accordance with the Climate Change Grant Guidelines, each application was assessed against
the following criteria:
Applications were open from 9 February 2026 until 23 March 2026.
Promotion for the grant included:
• Social media advertising
• Specific email to all non-for-profit community groups previously applied for the grants or may be
interested in applying for the grants
• Direct conversations with NRM Groups, sustainability groups and community groups to ensure
awareness
• Details published on Noosa Council’s website
The grant required the applicant to engage with a relevant Council officer prior to submitting the
application.
This round introduced more robust governance enhancements to improve defensibility, objectivity
and transparency of the evaluation process. To ensure the integrity of the program, the assessment
methodology was executed in four phases:
• Phase 1: Probity and Conflict of Interest (COI) Screening
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ORDINARY MEETING 18 JUNE 2026
o Upon receipt of applications, all assessing officers from the Strategy & Environment
directorate completed mandatory COI declarations. To eliminate any real or perceived
bias, officers with a declared COI, or those who had engaged with applicants prior to
submission, were strictly excluded from the assessment process.
• Phase 2: Technical Expert Review
o Before panel evaluation, subject matter experts conducted an initial technical appraisal
of each application. This ensured all proposed projects were rigorously vetted for
technical validity, execution capacity, quality, relevance, and risk management.
• Phase 3: Cross-Disciplinary Panel Evaluation
o To maximise objectivity, independent three-member panels were established for each
grant category, deliberately structured to include cross-branch representation. The
Environment Project Grants panel comprised two Environment Services officers and
one Strategy & Sustainability officer, while the Climate Change Response Grants panel
reversed this ratio. Including an evaluator from outside the core subject area prevented
siloing and provided independent, critical scrutiny.
• Phase 4: Independent Scoring and Executive Moderation
o Panel members scored applications individually and independently against the
established criteria. These scores were subsequently collated and subjected to a formal
moderation review by leadership staff within the Strategy & Environment directorate to
ensure scoring consistency, fairness, and alignment with strategic objectives.
Recommended Projects for Funding
Four projects have been recommended for funding based on a thorough assessment against the
evaluation criteria, community benefit and Council priorities. The funding request across the four
projects totals to $48,869.06. Staff have also identified a number of minor conditions that would be
required for each successful applicant to implement during project delivery, which would be included
in the notice of successful grant outcome. For further information regarding the applications and
individual funding recommended refer to details provided in Attachment 1.
Council staff will reach out individually to the five unsuccessful applicants in this program and work
with them on their projects to improve identified gaps in their applications and see how they can be
supported through other existing programs and opportunities to meet the need that has been
articulated.
Overall, most applications scored highly against the relevant grant criteria and Noosa Council was
grateful for the time invested by all applicants to apply for the Climate Change Response Grant.
Link to Corporate Plan
Theme No 1 - Environment
Focus areas include the natural environment, built environment, waterways and coasts and
conservation and heritage.
Objective 1.2 – Partner with landowners and community groups to manage, protect and regenerate
natural environment assets and improve resilience
Objective 1.3 - Fund and implement Coastal Foreshores and Coastal Hazard Management Plans
to protect and enhance coastal and foreshore areas.
Objective 1.5 – Deliver expanded vegetation networks, rehabilitation and habitat across the Shire
Objective 1.8 - Reinforce Noosa Design Principles to shape the look and feel of our distinctive built
environment to ensure it responds to our climate, environment and unique character.
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Theme No. 2 - Liveability
Liveability encompasses housing, facilities and services, transport, health and wellbeing to enable
an inclusive, connected and vibrant community.
Objective 2.6 – Facilitate strong, vibrant and inclusive communities where people have a sense of
belonging and are active participants in community life
Objective 2.8 – Provide opportunities to enhance the health, wellbeing and safety of communities
Theme 3 - Prosperity
Focus areas include economic development, local business, innovation, arts and culture, waste and
a circular economy
Objective 3.3 - Work with agricultural organisations and agencies to support and educate
landholders on regenerative agriculture methods and promote local and sustainable food production
Objective 3.7 - Deliver the waste program focused on accelerating actions and solutions including
circular economy opportunities to cut waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and
regenerate natural systems
Theme No. 4 - Future
This theme is focused on our future, strengthening our relationship with First Nations peoples and to
ensure our community is prepared and resilient to change. A focus on youth, climate resilience and
adaptation, sense of place and destination management.
Objective 4.7 – Fund and implement the Climate Change Response Plan to support Council,
community and the local economy to build resilience and preparedness for climate risks and to
achieve net-zero emissions by 2026.
Objective 4.8 – Deliver best practice approaches to combat and plan for natural disasters and
climate change including supporting safety, preparedness, resilience and recovery capacity.
Previous Council Consideration
Nil.
Finance
Funding for the recommended projects has been allocated in the draft versions of the FY2026/27
budget.
• The Climate Change Response Grants Program is funded through general revenue, with a total
allocation of $50,000 for this funding round.
The total funding recommended for allocation under this round is:
• Climate Change Response Grants: $48,869.06
Projects recommended for funding represent a prioritisation of available funds and have been
selected to maximise community resilience, climate risk reduction and sustainability outcomes within
the approved budget. Given that funding requests significantly exceeded available allocations, not
all applications could be supported.
Risk & Opportunities
Residual
Risk Existing Appetite
Risk Description LikelihoodImpact Risk
Category Controls Compliance
Rating
Risk that funded Service Application
applicants are unable to Delivery / assessment Unlikely MediumMedium Yes
deliver agreed project Financial / criteria; pre-
outcomes due to Reputation application officer
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ORDINARY MEETING 18 JUNE 2026
insufficient capability or engagement;
resources, resulting in selection of
reduced environmental demonstrated
or community benefit capability; grant
agreements and
milestones
Risk of misallocation or Funding
misuse of grant funding agreements;
caused by inadequate Financial / acquittal
financial controls within Legal / requirements; Unlikely MediumMedium Yes
recipient organisations, Reputation staged payments;
resulting in financial loss monitoring and
or reputational impact reporting
Risk that funded projects
Assessment
do not achieve intended
against outcomes
climate outcomes due to Environment
and feasibility;
poor project design or / Service Possible MediumMedium Yes
officer guidance;
external factors, Delivery
monitoring and
resulting in reduced
reporting
program effectiveness
Formal
Risk of perceived lack of assessment
transparency or fairness criteria; panel
in grant allocation Reputation / assessment;
Unlikely MediumMedium Yes
process resulting in Governance conflict of interest
reputational impacts and declarations;
reduced community trust documentation of
decisions
Risk of conflicts of Mandatory COI
interest not being declarations;
Legal /
adequately identified or exclusion of
Governance Rare High Medium Yes
managed, resulting in conflicted officers;
/ Reputation
governance breach and governance
reputational damage oversight
Risk that high demand Transparent
for funding exceeds guidelines; clear
available budget, Reputation / communication of
resulting in unsuccessful Service limited funding; Likely MediumHigh Yes
applicants and potential Delivery competitive
dissatisfaction within the assessment
community process
Risk that funded climate
Alignment criteria;
initiatives do not align
officer
with broader Council
Governance engagement prior
strategies due to
/ Service to submission; Unlikely MediumMedium Yes
inconsistent
Delivery panel review
interpretation, resulting
against strategic
in reduced strategic
documents
value
Risk that projects are Service Funding
delayed or not agreements; Possible MediumMedium Yes
Delivery
completed within agreed project
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ORDINARY MEETING 18 JUNE 2026
timeframes due to timeframes;
external factors progress
(weather, approvals, reporting;
staffing), impacting extension
delivery timelines provisions
Risk that climate
Flexible project
conditions change (e.g.
scope; adaptive
extreme weather events) Environment Possible MediumMedium Yes
delivery; officer
impacting project viability
support
or outcomes
Risk of administrative Established grant
burden on Council People & processes;
resources to manage Culture / standardised
Possible Low Low Yes
and monitor grants, Service templates;
impacting internal Delivery experienced staff
service delivery management
Human Rights
Human Rights Compatibility Statement
In developing this Report, the subject matter has been considered in accordance with the
requirements of the Queensland Human Rights Act 2019. It is considered that the subject matter
does not conflict with any human rights and supports a human rights approach to decision making
by Council. Council representatives will endeavour to act and make decisions under this report in a
manner that is compatible with human rights. This report should be read in conjunction with
Council’s Human Rights Policy.
Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
Applicants were encouraged to consult with Council officers prior to submission to ensure project
alignment and eligibility. Advice and support were provided where required throughout the
application period.
Internal Consultation
Departments consulted:
Office of the CEO, Mayor & Community Services Corporate Services
Councillors
x Mayor & Councillors Director Director
x Chief Executive Officer Community Connection Financial Services
Executive Officers Sport & Active Lifestyles Revenue Services
Community Engagement Arts & Culture ICT
Governance Customer Experience Procurement
People & Culture
Strategy & Environment Development & Regulation Infrastructure Services
x Director Director Director
x Strategy & Sustainability Development Assessment Civil and Asset operations
x Economic Development & Infrastructure Planning, Design
Local Laws
Destination Management and Delivery
x Environmental Services Environmental Health Waste
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Innovation & Digital Hub Building & Plumbing Building & Facilities
Commercial Property Property / Permits Disaster Management
Fleet