Environment Education Grants Initiative

1. Check to see if your project is eligible.
2. Complete the online application form
3. If required, contact Council’s Environment Co-Ordinator, McKenzie Redfern, on 6378 2850 for general advice to assist in completing your application
4. Seek any approvals required and consult with Council regarding any permits you may need to undertake works
5. Respond to all the application information requirements and provide all the necessary documentation
6. Submit your grant application by 5 pm on Friday, 15 December 2023.

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Environment Education Grants are targeted towards Mid-Western Regional Council schools. To be eligible for an environment grant you must meet the following criteria:

• Are you an independent, public, or pre-school that can complete a project over the 2024 calendar year?
• Does your organization have an ABN?
• Does your organization have at least $20,000,000 in Public Liability insurance?

Projects can focus on anything that benefits the environment such as:

• Waste management (compost bins)
• Revegetation (native and/or vegetable garden)
• Community engagement and educational activities
• Sustainability
• Energy efficiency
• Water wise
• River Management (check out Bathurst Regional Council’s River Connection Program for inspiration)
• Signage
• Biodiversity and habitat conservation activities
• Produce education materials
• Partnering with First Nations peoples to support Caring for Country

 Funding is not available for:

• Project management, travel and administration costs
• Activities (or components of projects) that have been funded by other funding bodies
• Projects assessed as not meeting the eligibility and assessment criteria
• Any activity requiring clearing of native vegetation
• Activities that involve the use of firearms, traps or explosives
• Any activity required as an offset (as a condition of a permit to clear native vegetation)

 30 October 2023 - Applications Open
8 December 2023 - Applications Close at 5pm
14 December 2023 -  Successful Applicants Advised
19 January 2024 - Funding Released (On Receipt of Invoice and Signed Agreement)
13 December 2024 - Projects Must Be Completed

Applications will be assessed according to how well they address the following:

• Outline of project including objectives.
• How will the community/students participate in the project?
• How will the project build skills and knowledge in the local community/schools?
• What local environmental issue/s does your project address?
• How will the project create visible and lasting improvement?
• How will the project’s benefits be maintained in the long term?
• Does the project fit within a larger project?
• Does the site have a management plan or align to Local, State or Regional priorities?
• How do you propose to track progress and ensure you meet your objectives?
• Are your costs clearly defined and show transparent application of project funds?
• Have you obtained co-contribution of resources (in kind, funds, equipment)?

All decisions are final and are not subject to further review. Applicants not granted funding are welcome to request feedback on their application and are invited to apply for future funding opportunities.

Successful applicants will be required to enter into a funding agreement with Mid-Western Regional Council signed by the authorized representative of the organization. Agreements detail the obligations to use funding, meet performance against described activities, the expected timeline for project expenditure, project reporting requirements, and describe how grant recipients will be required to acknowledge the funding support from Environment Education Grants Initiative. The agreed project funding will be available upon the provision of duplicate signed funding agreements and the following documentation:

• Insurance certificate of currency by an insurer
• Copies of permits for works that apply to the project; (funding does not guarantee your permit will be awarded, you must apply for this separately)
• A tax invoice
• All projects must commence in January 2024 and be finalized by 13 December 2024.
• All successful applicants will be required to provide a completion report.
• Successful applicants must adhere to relevant work health and safety requirements.