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

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