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


   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.