The State Government yesterday announced the $7.75 million 2018-19 State NRM Community Stewardship Grants Program is now open.

Community groups have until August 6, 2018 to apply for natural resource management grants ranging from $1,000 to $450,000.

State Natural Resource Management (NRM) program grants are available to local landcare, farming and NRM community groups, schools and local governments. The 2018-19 Community Stewardship Grants round, totalling $7.75 million, allows groups to apply for two different types of grants – small grants between $1,000 and $25,000, and large grants between $25,000 and $450,000. These grants can fund both co-ordination roles and on-ground activities that contribute to the conservation and sustainable and regenerative use of natural resources across WA.

In yesterday’s announcement Hon. Alannah MacTiernan, Minister for Regional Development; Agriculture and Food said, ‘The grants are part of a $31 million funding commitment to the State NRM program over four years’. She also praised the landcare community saying,  ‘All these groups work diligently to care for our water resources, conserve our native animals, protect our flora, and to educate others in the community about the conservation of our natural resources, especially our soils. It takes a huge community effort to care for and enhance our vast and unique natural environment, and that’s why the Community Stewardship Grants are so important.’

Applications close at 12pm on Monday August 6, 2018.  Landcare groups are advised to consult the Grant Guidelines on the State NRM Office website http://www.nrm.wa.gov.au/grants/state-nrm-program.aspx before completing an application. For more information, visit http://www.nrm.wa.gov.au or contact the State NRM Program on 9368 3168.

The summary below provides a run down of what can be expected from the grants and some hints and tips to get you started.

 

Summary of 2018-19 State NRM Community Stewardship Grants

How much funding is available?

The program includes a total of $31M ($7.75 M per year) for 4 years for nature resource management funding. It is expected that the program will be ongoing and funds have been committed in the State government forward estimates. The 2018-19 program includes $1.55M for Perth metro area projects and $6.2M  for regional projects (Royalties for Regions).

When will grant applications close

Grants opened on Thursday June 21, 2018  and close at 12pm on Monday August 6, 2018. Announcements regarding successful applications are scheduled for November 2018.

What are the program priorities?

The Grant Program has 6 key priorities

• sustainable management of land resources
• maintain and enhance water assets
• protect and enhance the marine and coastal environment
• conserve and recover biodiversity
• enhance skills, capacity and engagement
• deliver high quality planning that leads to effective action.

The program will have a definite focus of sustainable agriculture including regenerative farming  and it will be important to design projects and use key words around the concepts within the books ‘The Call of the Reed Warbler’ by Charles Massy and ‘Dark Emu’ by Bruce Pascoe.

What types of grants can I apply for?

2 types of grants large and small will be available. Applicants will be eligible to hold 2 small and 2 large active grants at any one time. Any further applications will not be able to be submitted until previous projects are acquitted.

Small Grants

• $1,000 to $25,000
• Up to 12 months
• Simpler, less complex
• Assessed Internally
• Max 2 grants

Large Grants

• $25,001 to $450,000
• Up to 36 Months
• More Strategic & complex projects
• Assessed formally by an Assessment Panel (Not NRM or Landcare people, Professionals appointed to be on the panel)
• Max 2 grants

How will the applications be assessed?

The grant applications will be assessed by an Assessment Panel still to be determined. The following weighting will be used by the panel:

• Environmental Outcomes                      30%
• Local community involvement             20%
• Workplan & Budget                                10%
• Co-contribution                                       10%
• Applicant Capacity                                  10%
• Need and/or urgency                              10%
• Partnerships where appropriate            5%
• Aboriginal Consultation                          5%

What will the assessment panel be looking for?

• Well justified arguments that paints a picture (tells a good story. The people who are assessing do not know about NRM or Landcare)
• Reasonable Ask
• Accurate figures throughout
• Community involvement, partnerships & Co-contributions (Justification on partnerships, what you have done, how you do it)
• Public vs Private benefit

GRID grants will be used for the mapping within the application form.

Hints & Tips

• Do not assume anything
• Don’t use acronyms
• Do Not leave the application to the last minute

Do

• Read the guidelines
• Imagine you are the Assessor
• Cross check your values
• Use simple Language
• Include photo’s & diagrams where appropriate

Important Considerations

• Are you up to date on reporting and acquittals for existing grants?
• Get all your authorisations & permissions
• Consult with stakeholders, including neighbours & other land users
• Spread of pest & disease ie dieback in the SW