ENVIRONMENT GRANTS - ENVIRONMENT PROJECT GRANTS (ROUND 18), MULTI-YEAR ENVIRONMENT COLLABORATIVE (MEC) GRANTS (ROUND 2: 2023-2026) AND ENVIRONMENT ORGANISATION ALLIANCE GRANTS (2023-2026) · Report - Environment Grants

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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                               6 JUNE 2023



REPORT
The Environment Grants Program is funded by the Environmental Levy and supports the
implementation of the Noosa Environment Strategy, as well as Council’s other key environment
strategies and plans. The Environment Grant Program is designed to enable collaboration with the
community in initiatives that work towards the outcomes and targets identified in the Noosa
Environment Strategy. All initiatives funded by the Environment Grants Program must have tangible
and measurable outcomes. The current total annual budget for the 3 Environment Grants
is $375,000.

There are three types of grants currently available under the Environment Grants Program:
   1. Environment Project Grants (Round 18): 1-year grants for projects, programs or events
      that align with the Noosa Environment Strategy, as well as Council’s other key environment
      strategies and plans, and have a positive impact on the environment.
   2. Multi-year Environment Collaborative (MEC) Grants (Round 2: 2023 - 2026): 3-year
      grants that support longer-term, larger-scale strategic initiatives that align with the Noosa
      Environment Strategy and have a significant positive impact on the Noosa environment.
   3. Environment Organisation Alliance Grants (2023-2026): 3-year grants that provide
      organisational support to community groups that are primarily focused on environment
      activities.
Applications for the Environment Grants were open for the following dates:
   1. Environment Project Grants (Round 18): 1 March 2023 until 17 April 2023
   2. Multi-year Environment Collaborative (MEC) Grants (Round 2: 2023 - 2026): 1 March 2023
      until 17 April 2023
   3. Environment Organisation Alliance Grants (2023-2026): 20 March 2023 until 1 May 2023
Promotion for the grants included:
   •   An advertisement in Noosa Today
   •   Social media advertising
   •   Presentation at the Noosa Council's Grants Connect 2023 community grants networking
       event.
   •   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 to ensure awareness
   •   Details published on Noosa Council’s website.
The following applications and funding were received for the Environment Grants:
   1. Environment Project Grants: Two (2) were received totalling $24,030.00 over 12 months.
      Attachment 1 provides an overview of the project and applicant details.
   2. MEC Grants: Seven (7) applications were received totalling $886,311.61 over the three
      years. Attachment 2 provides an overview of the project and applicant details.
   3. Environment Organisation Alliance Grants: Nine (9) applications were received totalling
      $183,269.00 over three years. Attachment 3 provides an overview of the project and
      applicant details.
The applications were checked for eligibility against the relevant grants policy and guidelines.
Applications were then reviewed and assessed by senior staff in the Environment Services Team
with experience assessing grants and environmental subject-matter expertise. These

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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                                   6 JUNE 2023


recommendations were moderated by the Environment Services Manager.

A summary of the grant assessment recommendations are provided below.

Environment Project Grants
Fully fund 2 applications received totalling $24,030.00 (one year). For further information regarding
the applications and individual funding recommended refer to Attachment 1.

MEC Grants
Fully fund five (5) and partially fund two (2) of the applications received totalling $261,518.20 (per
year) and $784,554.61 (over three years) . For further information regarding the applications and
individual funding recommended refer to Attachment 2.

Environment Organisation Alliance Grants
Fully fund four (4) and partially fund three (3) of the applications received totalling $88,900 (per year)
and $266,700.0 (over three years). The Environment Organisational Alliance Grant application for
Hinterland Bush Links was not supported as they were successful in their MEC application for the
same funding amount. The application from ZEN Inc is subject to a separate budget consideration.
For further information regarding the applications and individual funding recommended refer to
Attachment 3.

Overall, most applications scored highly against the relevant grant criteria and Noosa Council was
grateful for the time invested by applicants to apply for the three Environment Grants.


Link to Corporate Plan

Theme No 1. - Environment

Focus areas include the natural environment, built environment, waterways and coasts and conservation
and heritage.

Objective 1.1: Maintain and improve water quality and the health of waterways, wetlands and catchments
Objective 1.2: Partner with landowners and community groups to manage, protect and regenerate
natural environment assets, improve resilience, and incorporate Indigenous knowledge.
Objective 1.5: Deliver expanded vegetation networks, rehabilitation and habitat across the Shire and
advocate to the State and Federal Governments to assist funding environmental actions.
Objective 1.6: Partner with community to improve the health and water quality management of Noosa
and Mary Rivers and Eastern Beaches through whole of catchment management to protect
environmental values while enabling sustainable public access, recreation, and commercial uses.


Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting Minutes – 16 June 2022, Item 2, Page 26/27
That Council note the report by the Environmental Services Manager (Acting) to the Planning &
Environment Committee Meeting dated 7 June 2022 and
   A. Approve the Environment Project Grants as outlined in Table 1 – Revised Project Grants
      below;
   B. Approve the Environment Organisation Alliance Grants as outlined in Table 2 – Revised
      Alliance Grants below, noting that the Environment Organisation Alliance Grants will be
      awarded for a one-year period to allow reconsideration for future years when the entire
      funding pool for Environment Grants is available in FY23/24; and

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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                               6 JUNE 2023


   C. Amend the allocation of grant funding for Environment Grants in the draft 2022/2023 Budget
      accordingly.

Ordinary Meeting Minutes – 20 February 2020, Item 7, Page 4
That Council note the report by the Environmental Services Manager to the Planning & Environment
Committee Meeting dated 11 February 2020 and:
   A. Award the 3 year Multi-year environment grants to the initiatives recommended for funding
      as identified in table 1 of the report; and
   B. Authorise the CEO to enter into three-year Funding Deeds with successful organisations, as
      per the recommended funding amount.



Finance
Funding for the Environment Project grants, MEC grants and Environment Organisation Alliance
grants, for the initiatives recommended in Attachments 1 – 3 has been allocated as part of the
2023/24 budget process. The Environment Grants program is funded by the Environment Levy.

The budget allocation for the Environment Organisation Alliance Grants (3-year grants) is over
subscribed for the 2023/24 financial year. The Environment Project Grants is undersubscribed for
the 2023/24 and it is requested that the underspent budget from the Environment Project Grants
($50,970.00) for the 2023/2024 financial year is reallocated to the Alliance grants for the 2023/24,
and for the subsequent 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years. This will reduce the budget for the
Environment Project grants for the next two financial years; however, applicants seem to prefer
longer term funding over the three years rather than the 1-year Environment Grants.


Risk & Opportunities
All applications were assessed in accordance with the relevant grant guidelines. Any conflicts of
interest arising during the assessment or mediation process were noted.
All successful applicants will be required to report project/program outcomes in accordance with the
relevant grant guideline, policies and agreements.

A number of opportunities for improvement were noted during the assessment of the Environment
Grants, including:
   •   Applicants are looking for longer term project funding, rather than 12-month project grants as
       shown with the small number of applications for the Environment Project Grants.
   •   Applicants are confused about the different types of grants available and which one they
       should apply for.

To improve the success and outcomes of the Environmental Grants the following actions are
recommended:
   1. Ensure future grant rounds include a longer application time (2 months minimum), wider
      stakeholder engagement and promotion, such as an Environment Grant breakfast,
      identification and engagement with a wider range of stakeholders in the Noosa Shire.
   2. Determine if there is a need for a base level of ongoing funding of certain programs funded
      under the Environment Grants currently. This may include longer term partnership
      agreements with some community groups where there is strong program alignment with
      Environment Service Branch activities and projects.

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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                                  6 JUNE 2023


     3. Review the Environment Grants Policy and Environment Levy Policy and associated
        guidelines and funding allocations to identify areas for improved outcomes and delivery.


Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
Applicants were requested to contact a Council officer prior to application. Meetings and advice were
provided to some of the applicants.


Internal Consultation
Departments/Sections Consulted: An internal Councillor workshop was undertaken with Councillors
to present the grant proposals, assessment outcomes and recommendations in detail on the 11 May
2023.

 x    Mayor                         Community Services                      Corporate Services

x     Councillors                   Director                                Director

                                    Community Development                   Financial Services

      Chief Executive Officer       Community Facilities                    Fleet

      Executive Support             Libraries & Galleries                   ICT

                                    Local Laws                              Procurement

                                    Waste & Environmental Health            Property

                                                                            Revenue Services



      Executive Services            Environment & Sustainable Development   Infrastructure Services

      Director                  x   Director                                Director

      Community Engagement          Building & Plumbing Services            Asset Management

      Customer Service              Development Assessment                  Buildings and Facilities

      Governance                    Economic Development                    Civil Operations

      People and Culture        x   Environmental Services                  Disaster Management

                                x   Strategic Land Use Planning             Infrastructure Planning,
                                                                            Design and Delivery