Environment & Climate Change Response Grants - Environment Project Grants (Round 21), Climate Change Response Grants (Round 6)

Thank you, Chair. We've got two funding streams that I'll talk to, and first of all, I'll put in an apology for my colleague, Sian, who's our climate change coordinator who has just left for a family commitment. So, I'll say very early that on the climate change response grants, I might not be able to answer all of your questions, but ones that I don't, I'll take on notice, and we can potentially put through to a so, we've got two funding streams that are presented in this agenda item. The first one is the environment project grants. Are funded through the Environment Levy and supports the implementation of the noosa's Environment Strategy, as well as council's other key environment strategies and plans. The environment grants program is designed to enable collaboration with the community in initiatives that work towards the outcomes and targets identified in the strategy. All initiatives funded under these project grants must have tangible and measurable outcomes. The total budget that we've got for the environmental project grants for year financial '26 / '27 is $35,000. We received nine applications for the current funding round requesting a total of $162,282. The climate change response grants are included under the environment grant policy or assisting the climate change response plan, the Coastal Hazards Adaptation Plan, and the Regional Climate Action Roadmap. The current FY26/27 budget for climate change response grants is $50,000. Unlike the environment project grants, the climate change response grants are funded through general rates. Nine applications were received for the current round of funding, for a funding request totalling $145,753. It is noted the calibre of grants received in this round across both streams was very high and it's a credit to our community organisations to be able to put in such well thought and strategic grant applications which would all improve that. Long-term future of Noosa. In accordance with the environmental grant guidelines each application from both streams was assessed by a panel of three officers against the published criteria. The panel assessments then moderated by Director Rawlings with the recommendations presented to the committee in this report. I'll ask you to please note a correction in attachment 2 relating to the climate change response grants. The correction is for the alignment summary column in NICA's get climate ready with Noosa plants and should include the following text. The application was scored highly by the evaluation panel. The project addresses increasing risks of climate change impacts on biodiversity and urban green infrastructure as well as helps improve household resilience due to the addition of climate resilience gardens which provide heat, health and flood reduction benefits. The project is thus help Noosa community with the climate adaptation and resilience. The project is proposed by a credible group with a demonstrated track record of delivering credible evidence-based information and workshops to the community. The project includes community workshops that demonstrate the water broader reach. Recommended conditioning of funding to improve monitoring and evaluation and to demonstrate stronger partnership with consideration for Kabi Kabi Land and Sea Rangers. So that was the additional dot points in substitution of the dot points that are in there which was cutting in and paisenheira. That is my summary, stumbling summary. Thank you, open for questions

Brian Stockwell362:10

Yes thank you um I am going to declare and that is in accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009 I inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in the matter in terms of environment and climate change response grants, environmental project grants and climate change response grant on this agenda. So I am the current president of the Noosa Lions Football Club who has submitted the grant application. Change response grant. Although I A declarable conflict I do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of bias because the application submitted was unsuccessful and could I add and is not discussed in the report. Therefore would I will choose to remain in the meeting room however I respect the decision of the meeting or whether I can remain and participate in the decision. Why? Are you declining? I think because if I don't and people say wait a minute he voted on it but he submitted an application I just think there is a perception of risk so if I if we were successful it would be prescribed but I just think it is a clever one to let people know I applied and we did the under the lines applied we didn't get the grant. I but I think I can make the decision in the community interest.

Jessica Phillips374:32

Thank you very that General Committee agenda item 7.1 will be referred to the Ordinary Meeting or two further reports separating the environment project grants and climate change response grants

Brian Stockwell361:46

I've put the vote. Those in favour that's unanimous we move on to the next item which is one it is the uh. Is the environment one and climate change grants. I'll just get uh.

Tom Wegener366:20

Okay, Ben, would you please us the report on the climate change response grants?