2016-17 Upper Hunter Landcare Partnerships Grants Program

Guidelines for ApplicantsProgram Information

Funding available in 2016/17

Total funding available is $25,000

$8,000 – Hunter Catchment Contributions

$17,000 – National Landcare Programme - Australian Government

Individual grants are available to a maximum of $5,000

Applications open 1 August 2016

Closing date for applications

16 September 2016

Final date for completion of approved projects

31 May 2017

EligibilityIncorporated Landcare and community groups and organisations in the Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook and Singleton Local Government Areas.

Eligible activities See Page 4

Minimum outputs to be delivered by the Program

12 landcare groups participating in natural resource management (NRM)

120 people participating in NRM

5 Field Days and / or Workshops supported

Priority AreasUpper Hunter, Muswellbrook and Singleton Local Government Areas

Lodging applications

Electronically: incentives.program@lls.nsw.gov.au

Written: Upper Hunter Landcare Partnerships ProgramHunter Local Land ServicesPO Box 250, Scone, NSW, 2337

Conditions of Funding

Standard LLS Grant funding terms and conditions apply (Page 8 of these guidelines)

LLS on-ground works minimum standards apply to projects involving onground works (contact LLS for further details)

Where to get assistance? Website: www.hunter.lls.nsw.gov.au

Hunter Local Land Services

Phone: Maria Cameron 02 6540 2413, 0409 636 765

Email: maria.cameron@lls.nsw.gov.au

Office: Hunter Local Land ServicesScone TAFE, 2 Flemington Drive (PO Box 250) Scone NSW 2337Note: Requests for assistance from Hunter LLS staff must be received by 2nd September 2016 to guarantee assistance with your project application.

About the LLS The Hunter Local Land Services region of Local Land Services covers the following Local Government Areas: Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook, Singleton, Cessnock, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Dungog and Mid Coast.

The Hunter LLS Local Strategic Plan 2016-2021 prioritises and directs Hunter LLS customer services, partnerships and investment across the region.

It sets the following goals:

1. Communities – Resilient, self-reliant and prepared local communities2. Industries – Biosecure, profitable, productive and sustainable3. Natural Environments – Healthy, diverse, connected natural environments4. Our Organisation - Innovative, commercially focused and collaborative people delivering

best practice business management and reducing red tape.

The plan identifies priorities and strategies for addressing these goals. Those relevant to this grants program are identified in the next section.

The Hunter LLS approach to delivering on this plan involves local people, delivering high quality, integrated services for healthy productive landscapes.We will work with landholders and land managers to develop measures of productivity, profitability and sustainability, to help improve primary production within healthy landscapes and assist communities in the region to be profitable and sustainable into the future.

About the Program The Upper Hunter Landcare Partnerships Program is a component of the Upper Hunter District Service Delivery Plan, which covers the Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook and Singleton Local Government Areas. This plan details the priorities, programs and projects to be delivered in the Upper Hunter District for the 2016/17 financial year.

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Objectives

The objectives of Upper Hunter Landcare Partnerships Program are:

To support communities to manage landscapes to sustain long-term economic and social benefits from their environment.

To facilitate community involvement in caring for their environment and protecting threatened species, ecological communities and natural assets.

To support Landcare coordinators, networks and groups to increase and cultivate a diverse membership base with opportunities for youth and family engagement.

To support land managers to improve management of the natural resource base.

To strengthen local community partnerships to facilitate adoption and innovation of NRM and sustainable agriculture.

This program delivers on the following Hunter Local Strategic Plan regional priorities:

Developing partnerships with a wide range of other service delivery organisations including industry groups and associations, local government, Landcare.

Building the capacity of the community to engage in improving primary production and natural resource management and participate in decision making.

Being responsive and accountable to a diverse range of customers, investors and stakeholders, including maintaining highly skilled and capable staff that are responsive to customers’ needs.

Ensuring investment decision-making is transparent and objective.

This program also delivers on the following Hunter Local Strategic Plan strategy and outcome:

Strategy 4: Collaborate with Stakeholders

Outcomes 4: By 2021, Hunter Local Land Services is working in effective partnerships with stakeholders with similar goals and priorities to add value to service delivery.

Investors

Hunter LLS is delivering National Landcare Programme (NLP) funding on behalf of the Australian Government. The NLP priorities that this program will deliver include:

1. Maintain and improve ecosystem services through sustainable management of local and regional landscapes.

2. Increase the numbers of farmers and fishers adopting practices that improve the quality of the natural resource base, and the area of land over which those practices are applied.

3. Increase engagement and participation of the community, including landcare, farmers and indigenous people in sustainable natural resource management.

4. Increase restoration and rehabilitation of the natural environment, including protecting and conserving nationally and internationally significant species, ecosystems, ecological communities, places and values.

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Hunter LLS is also delivering Hunter Catchment Contributions funding. The Hunter Catchment Contributions priorities this program will deliver include:

By 2020, Communities are engaged in natural resource management and are better able to manage natural disasters such as floods.

By 2020, Land managers are implementing priority riverine stabilisation projects that restore healthy river and estuarine ecosystems.

By 2020, Land managers participate in catchment activities that increase ground cover on highly erodible soils and decrease the impacts of pest and weeds.

EligibilityGeneral

Eligibility of applications is subject to:

The applicant being an incorporated Landcare or community group or organisation based in the Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook and/or Singleton Local Government Areas.

The applicant completing any previously funded projects.

The proposed project must be able to be completed by 31st May 2017.

LLS minimum standards for any included on-ground works being met (if applicable).

The proposed activities must abide by NSW State and Australian Commonwealth laws e.g. Native Vegetation Act 2003, Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

All current Hunter LLS financial obligations are paid.

Types of ActivitiesThe types of activities that can be funded under this Program include (but are not limited to):

Field days and workshops to build local capacity, encourage networking, assist decision making and promote practice change.

Assistance for delivery of landcare and community capacity building and on-ground projects and activities promoting engagement in best practice natural resource management, biodiversity and sustainable agricultural land management.

Educational and engagement activities to support landcare and community groups to address natural resource management, biodiversity and sustainable agriculture priorities.

Innovative land management practices, including enhancing native vegetation and habitats for biodiversity, threatened species and ecological communities.

Types of activities that will not be funded under this program include:

Purely production oriented activities Purely noxious weed control Purchase of machinery and computer hardware and software, where there is no

demonstrated land use change

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Activities more appropriately funded by other bodies Activities that the land managers can reasonably be expected to undertake to ensure

sustainable management of areas under their control. Work that is undertaken before the project agreement for the proposal is signed or after

the project agreement ends. Projects that mainly beautify or improve amenity. Standard boundary fencing that is the landholder’s normal responsibility Capital works, for example construction of buildings or viewing platforms to improve

amenity Expert advice that could alternatively be provided by the LLS or other government

agency Research Any works for mostly private benefit Activities that may be required due to: legal responsibilities, compliance with

development consents and/or reasonable duty of care Activities that do not directly deliver on the specified Hunter Local strategic plan

outcomes.

The following activities will not be funded under the National Landcare Programme component of this program:

Activities or investments undertaken, or liabilities incurred, before the Commonwealth enters into a written funding agreement with the successful Applicant

Activities that will be receiving, or completed activities that have previously received, funding through other Australian Government (including Caring for our Country or the Biodiversity Fund), state or territory or local government funding initiatives or programmes, or from other third parties, where those activities are substantially the same and in the same location

Activities that are the responsibility, or the business, of state, territory or local governments or of private land managers, including activities that are a legislative and regulatory responsibility, such as managing or controlling certain weeds or compliance activities, and activities that would be considered a landholder’s responsibility, such as standard boundary fencing. These activities may be undertaken in conjunction with Programme funded activities provided that Programme funding is not used for them

Activities that are required to be undertaken by any person or are part of an approval under Commonwealth, state or territory legislation, for example, the provision of an environmental offset under the EPBC Act

Activities that are likely to have a significant adverse impact on any species or ecological community listed under the EPBC Act, an ecosystem of national or international significance (e.g. a Ramsar listed site, World Heritage area or part of the National Reserve System) or activities with the potential to exacerbate a threatening process listed under the EPBC Act

Activities that may have a significant adverse impact on Indigenous cultural heritage and which have not received approval through relevant state or territory legislative requirements

Activities that involve planting of species (including native species) that are known to be, or could become, environmental or agricultural weeds in or near the project location

Activities or elements of activities that are primarily for the purpose of beautifying or improving amenity, for example, landscaping, picnic tables, shelters and paving

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Activities that predominantly support applied research, tool building and/or development of modelling approaches except where an activity of this nature is demonstrably required to achieve outcomes in line with Programme objectives and outcomes

Where to get assistance?LLS staff are available to assist you with developing your application, including providing advice on best practice management design, costing, and where applicable, developing a detailed project works map.

All applications involving onground works must be accompanied by a project works map showing the location and type of proposed management activities.

Applications for the Upper Hunter Landcare Partnerships Program will need to complete a Hunter Local Land Services Grant Application Form.

Contact details for your local office:

Phone: 02 6540 2400 or 0409 636 765

Email: maria.cameron@lls.nsw.gov.au

Office: Hunter Local Land Service, Scone TAFE, 2 Flemington Drive, Scone, NSW, 2337.

Lodging ApplicationsApplications can be lodged in two ways.

1. Submit the original signed application to the LLS by 16 September 2016. Applications post marked this date will be accepted.

Upper Hunter Landcare Partnerships ProgramHunter Local Land ServicesScone TAFE 2 Flemington Drive (PO Box 250) Scone NSW 2337.

2. Submit your application electronically by 16 September 2016 to

incentives.program@lls.nsw.gov.auElectronically lodged applications must come from the applicant’s e-mail account. The subject line should include the following information:

HR_xxx-“applicant group name”(the HR_xxx project identifier will be provided by your LLS Officer)

Applications that are sent directly to LLS staff will not be accepted.

Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

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Assessment ProcessApplications will be initially screened to confirm that all eligibility criteria are met and there is sufficient information in the form for an assessment to be made.

Applications will then be assessed by a panel against the following criteria:

Extent and likelihood that the project will deliver on Upper Hunter Landcare Partnerships Program objectives

Applicant contribution

Level of public and private benefit, and value for money

Improved community capacity to manage natural resource and agricultural issues.

Applicant’s capacity to complete projects in the specified timeframes.

A risk assessment of the likelihood of a successful project outcome.

Contribution towards delivery of program outputs and investor priorities.

Aboriginal cultural heritage outcomes.

The LLS may contact applicants during the assessment process to confirm or clarify any information in the application form.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the assessment process.

Further rounds may be opened in 2016-17 if all funds are not allocated.

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Conditions of funding

ContractsAll Hunter LLS Grants will be delivered through an Agreement. A copy of the standard agreement letter is available to all applicants to review prior to submitting the application. Please contact the LLS office to access a copy of the standard agreement template.

The Agreement letter will need to be signed by the applicant and the land owner (If different). The applicant on the application should match the applicant that will sign the contract and this should also match applicant that will receive the Grant funds.

How will you be paid?A payment schedule will be determined as part of funding agreement negotiations. Funds will generally be paid 40% on completion of the first milestone which will generally be the submission of a WHS management plan and baseline photos. The remainder of funds will paid on completion of agreed milestones with 10% being withheld for the submission and approval of the final report.

All Grant payments from the LLS will be made during the 2016-17 financial year provided milestones are achieved. Milestone payments may require a site inspection by the LLS to verify completion of the milestone. A final report on the project outcomes will be required to receive the final payment.

Payment will be made on receipt of a signed ATO compliant tax invoice on completion of agreement milestones. GST registered Grantees will be paid 10% GST on top of the approved Grant amount. Applicants should discuss the implications of receiving funding from the LLS with a financial adviser prior to applying.

Monitoring and ReportingAll on-ground projects funded by the LLS will be required to undertake photo point monitoring or take before and after photos of activities. The LLS has a guideline for photo monitoring on the website.

The LLS may also require monitoring of groundcover using the step point monitoring method or native vegetation condition monitoring depending on the type of activities proposed, for onground projects.

Given that funding aims to deliver economic, social and environmental outcomes, LLS will develop with successful grant funding applicants a set of relevant production, profitability and sustainability measures for monitoring and reporting on project outcomes, where appropriate.

All onground projects funded by the LLS may be included in more detailed vegetation and/or soil condition monitoring undertaken by the LLS.

A final report on the project outcomes will be required to receive a final payment. Further details of monitoring requirements and templates for reports are available from an LLS contact officer and will be made available to successful applicants.

MaintenanceAll onground funded activities will require maintenance to ensure the outcomes are maintained. All activities must be regularly maintained for at least 5 years, but exceptions apply for community groups.

Public Liability InsuranceAll funded projects must be prepared to maintain current Public Liability Insurance ($20 million) for the duration of the agreement. A copy of your certificate of currency should be provided with your project application. If you are unable to provide the $20m of coverage you may apply to the LLS for a reduced amount, but this would be subject to an assessment of the Public Liability risk of the project.

Disclosure of InformationThe LLS has requirements with the Australian and NSW Government to provide spatial information and details of funded works. The LLS will be required report spatially and on activities to these funding bodies, which may in turn be published on public websites. The LLS aims to provide information to the public spatially on achievements associated with public funds. Your project may be represented spatially e.g. point or polygon on catchment scale map in publicly released documents but no detailed information will be released.

Aboriginal Cultural HeritageThe LLS recommends that Aboriginal consultation be undertaken during the planning stage of all projects. The LLS has Aboriginal staff that can assist you in contacting the appropriate person(s) or organisation.

Workplace Health and SafetyThe first milestone payment will be linked to completion of a Work Health and Safety Management Plan and submission of baseline photo-point monitoring. The WHS Management Plan should document a WHS risk assessment in accordance with Work Health and Safety Act 2011 requirements. LLS

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staff can assist in preparing a risk assessment and WHS Management Plan for projects.

Conflicts of InterestThe Local Land Services has a Conflict of Interest Policy. Applicants should declare any perceived, actual or potential conflict of interest on their application. This could include being a current or past LLS staff member or being related to a staff member. Noting a Conflict of Interest will not automatically exclude applications for funding, but it does mean the LLS will need to follow certain procedures to ensure the conflict of interest is dealt with appropriately.

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