Funding for communities to improve the ecological health of urban waterways

What organisations cannot apply for funding under stream 1?

You cannot apply for stream 1 if you are:

• an Australian state/territory government, including any department
• an Australian state/territory government agency, statutory authority or government owned corporation that derives revenue from waterway management levies, including developer and, drainage, stormwater or waterway levies. Note, this does not apply to local government.
• any Regional Delivery Partner organisation (i.e. one of the formally recognised regional natural resource management (NRM) organisations across Australia that have entered into a services agreement with the Commonwealth under the next phase of the Natural Heritage Trust program) that is an Australian state/territory government agency, statutory authority or government owned corporation that derives revenue from waterway management levies, including developer, drainage, stormwater or waterway levies.

These organisations can apply for grant funding under stream 2.

Are local government and councils able to apply for stream 1 funding?

Yes. An Australian local government agency or body as defined in section 14 of the grant opportunity guidelines can apply for both stream 1 and stream 2 funding.

My organisation, a statutory authority, derives a small amount of revenue from waterway management levies. Is my organisation eligible to apply for funding under stream 1?

As per Section 4 of the grant opportunity guidelines, eligible organisation for stream 1 must be:

“Australian state/territory government agency, statutory authority or Government owned corporation that does not derive revenue from waterway management levies, including developer, drainage, stormwater or waterway levies.”

A state/territory government agency, statutory authority, or government owned corporation that derives revenue from waterway management levies, including developer, drainage, stormwater or waterway levies, can apply for funding under stream 2.

My organisation is a statutory authority. It does not derive revenue from waterway management levies including developer, drainage, stormwater or waterway levies, but it receives project funding through the state government who derives revenue from waterway management levies. Am I eligible to apply under stream 1 of the program?

If the authority does not derive revenue from waterway management levies including developer, drainage, stormwater or waterway levies, you can apply for stream 1.

We recommend that you make your own determination regarding the application of the eligibility criteria for stream 1 set out in the grant opportunity guidelines. If your organisation lodges an application, you should be ready to provide evidence upon request of the fact that all eligibility criteria are met, including evidence to confirm your organisation does not derive revenue from waterway management levies.

A state/territory government agency, statutory authority, or government owned corporation that derives revenue from waterway management levies, including developer, drainage, stormwater or waterway levies, can apply for funding under stream 2.

My volunteer community group is not incorporated. Can a larger, incorporated, not-for-profit organisation auspice our application?

Yes. Under Section 4 of the grant opportunity guidelines joint applications are acceptable, provided the application is submitted by a lead organisation who is eligible to apply under the funding stream, and the lead organisation accepts responsibility for the project’s delivery. The larger not-for-profit organisation would receive and manage the grant funding, with the non-incorporated community group undertaking the actual project work.

Section 7.2 of the grant opportunity guidelines states, “We recognise that some organisations may want to join together as a group to deliver a project (including groups of organisations working on different project sites). In these circumstances, you must appoint a lead organisation for the project. Only the lead organisation can submit the application form and enter into the grant agreement with the Commonwealth. The application must identify all other members of the proposed group and include a letter of support from each of the project partner organisations.”

My organisation is going to make an application under stream 1, but one of the partnering organisations for the project is only eligible for stream 2. Will my project still be eligible under stream 1?

Yes, provided the lead organisation who submits the application is an entity who is eligible to apply for a grant under stream 1.

A lead organisation can outsource activities to a partner organisation under joint (consortia) application. You should however, consider the proportion of project funding to be provided to the partner organisation, noting that the joint consortia arrangements don’t extend to a partner organisation (only eligible for stream 2) being a quasi-lead organisation.

Any agreements must be in place prior to the execution of the grant agreement.

My project will provide benefits and outcomes for native plants and animals endemic to the project site but will not provide benefits and outcomes for any nationally listed threatened species, threatened ecological communities or wetlands of international significance. Is the project still eligible?

Projects that provide benefits and outcomes for native plants and animals endemic to the project site are consistent with the objectives of the grant round and are eligible.

Section 8 of the grant opportunity guidelines outlines the grant selection process. We will consider how your application compares to other applications in the funding stream you have applied for, including whether your application benefits multiple program objectives or benefits a single program objective.

Is there more detail available on the eligible grant activities?

Yes. Refer to Further information on activities under Key documents.

Is water quality monitoring an eligible grant activity?

The Urban Rivers and Catchments Program is not intended to be a water quality monitoring or research program. The program is intended to effect on-ground restoration and/or improvement to waterways to benefit native species including threatened species, or aquatic areas of significance. It is important to consider the eligible grant activities under section 5.1 of the guidelines, noting the outcomes and objectives of the 2023 grant opportunity. Further information on the range of eligible grant activities can be found in Further information on activities under Key documents.

Water quality monitoring is not listed as a stand-alone activity under Section 5.1 of the grant opportunity guidelines, however surveys and monitoring of the effectiveness of project activities (e.g. water quality and habitat) are considered “on-ground” activities, and could form part of project evaluation.

If my organisation has approved project funding under round 1 (projects announced in the lead up to the May 2022 election), can my organisation apply for a grant under round 2?

Yes, but note that a grant application for the same project activities at the same site as those funded under round 1 of the Program would be ineligible (see Appendix B of the grant opportunity guidelines).

A grant application for different project activities at the same site, or the same project activities at a different site on the same waterway may be eligible, provided the delineation between the activities and outcomes in each project are clearly described. You should use a different project title to avoid any confusion with the round 1 project.

Can I develop an outcome statement/s different to those in the project plan?

Yes. The outcome statements in the project plan template are examples. Outcome statements should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timebound (i.e. deliverable within the program timeframe), and articulate the expected change the project will deliver against a pre-project baseline.

Why has the program used the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Significant Urban Area (SUA) layer to define eligibility?

The Government’s policy commitment is to improve waterway health in Australia’s urban and peri-urban areas.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Significant Urban Area (SUA) layer was selected as an evidence-based, national data layer that clearly defines urban areas, includes peri-urban/outer urban areas, and aligns with the policy announcement. A 500 metre buffer to the landward boundary of the 2021 SUA layer has been applied, to include the reaches of creeks and rivers on the edges of the SUA layer.

The SUA structure of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) represents significant towns and cities with concentrations of 10,000 people or more.

Can I submit an application that covers a number of separate sites across Australia?

Yes, you can submit an application that covers more than one site across Australia, in multiple states and/or territories. You can also submit an application that covers multiple sites within the same state/territory.

My project site overlaps with an area designated as an offset. Is my project site eligible?

No. Sites which are development offsets under the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or other relevant state or territory environment protection laws are not eligible. See Appendix B Ineligible expenditure, in the grant opportunity guidelines.

Are there any rules around revegetation?

No, but we will closely consider your project’s proposed impact and effectiveness on the natural asset/s you intend to deliver outcomes for e.g., the specific native plants and animals, or aquatic areas of significance.

Section 7 and 8 of the Project Plan template requires you to explain how the on-ground intervention/s proposed are best practice in restoring or improving waterway habitat, or improving water quality, water in the landscape, or waterway connectivity, to benefit native plants and animals, or aquatic areas of significance.

For example, if a project includes revegetation to improve the quality and condition of waterway habitat, you should state:

1. how the type of revegetation will be fit for purpose for the species or significant aquatic area of focus e.g., local provenance, native, and comprise over storey, mid storey and understorey species
2. the distance out/away from the top of the waterway bank (average) the revegetation will extend (multiplying this by two if the revegetation will occur on both sides of a stream/river)
3. the length of the waterway the revegetation will extend, and whether the project will link, or connect to/from a significant area/s of remnant native vegetation along the waterway i.e. intact, native vegetation habitat.

Further information on better practice is available through the CRC for Water Sensitive Urban Cities Riparian Design Guidelines to Inform the Ecological Repair of Urban Waterways.

Is weed control and/or aquatic pest control, an eligible grant activity?

The Urban Rivers and Catchments Program is not intended as a weed control or pest management program.

Weed and/or pest removal activities could be component activities of a project, provided you clearly demonstrate they are integral to the achievement of the project’s outcomes.

If you are considering including weed control or pest management activities in your application, you should consider aspects including, but not limited to:

1. the (legislative) responsibilities of the land manager/land owner of the project site/s, and how the activities would be additional to those responsibilities e.g., site eradication as opposed to management
2. the feasibility of the activities i.e., the likelihood the project will achieve them
3. the potential for recolonisation i.e., the long term feasibility
4. the potential risk that the removal method may pose to other valued biota at the project site/s
5. the evidence to demonstrate the project outcomes can and will be maintained long term.

Section 7 and 8 of the Project Plan template requires an applicant to explain how the on-ground intervention/s proposed are best practice in restoring or improving waterway habitat, or improving water quality, water in the landscape, or waterway connectivity, to benefit native plants and animals, or aquatic areas of significance.

Are monitoring and sampling activities for my project counted as on-ground activities?

Yes, but also note the above answer, under Eligible Projects and Activities to, “Is water quality monitoring an eligible grant activity?”

The glossary table in Section 14 of the guidelines defines “on-ground” works for the purpose of the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program 2023 grant opportunity. Under the definition, surveys and monitoring of the effectiveness of project activities (e.g. water quality and habitat) are considered on-ground activities, and could form part of project evaluation.

Are community awareness activities considered on-ground activities?

No. Community awareness and engagement activities are eligible, but they would not count as on-ground actions.

To be eligible your project must:

• for Stream 1, direct at least 75% (of the grant funding applied for) to eligible on-ground project activities
• for Stream 2, direct at least 85% (of the grant funding applied for) to eligible on-ground activities.

Do I need to repeat the project information provided in the Project Plan template in Section E (Project Information) and G (Assessment Criteria) of the application form?

No. In the application form you can reference the relevant section of the Project Plan and the page number that responds to the question. You may select to complete the Project Plan template prior to completing the application form.

I am unable to obtain some of the information characterising information for my planned project sites as part of my project site condition report. Will this make my project ineligible?

No. It is accepted that some information relating to your project site may be unavailable or incomplete at the time of preparing your application, due to factors which may be out of your control.

In these circumstances, you should provide what information you can.

How do I complete the budget table?

The project budget must be provided in:

• the project budget template (see Project budget template in Key documents)
• the application form (see Section F. Project budget)
• the Project Plan (see Section 10. Project grant expenditure on page 11 of the Project Plan template in Key documents).

The project budget template is an Excel template. Instructions on how to use the template are included in the first tab of the workbook. This project budget template will also assist you in completing the eligible project expenditure budget table in the application form.

The Project Plan budget itemises the activities and quantifiable outputs to help demonstrate your project’s value for money. This must be completed in addition to the project budget template required in the application form. Please note the project value, grant funding requested, cash contributions and in-kind contributions MUST accurately match what is provided in the project budget template. Please see the grant opportunity Guidelines Appendix A. Eligible expenditure.

What are the financial limits for eligible expenditure?

The financial limits for eligible expenditure are:

• labour on-cost activities up to a maximum of 30% of total eligible labour expenditure
• administrative support and overheads for project management or project coordination additional to the normal day-to-day running costs of the organisation up to a maximum of 10% of non on-ground expenditure
• contingency costs up to a maximum of 10% of eligible expenditure
• independent audit costs up to a maximum of 1% of total eligible expenditure.

How do I reflect multiple sites and activities under the milestones in Section E 5. of the application form?

It is recommended milestones clearly articulate the project site/s and the relevant activity to be undertaken at each site. Multiple activities can be listed in a milestone.

What are in-kind contributions?

In-kind contribution refers to goods, services and labour provided to deliver your project that have a monetary value, but do not involve a payment. This could include the cost of employees, volunteers or service delivery after project completion. It could also include monetary funds sourced from other means than the grant (e.g. donations) that will be used to deliver additional project activities. This could also involve the use of assets (e.g. vessels, equipment).

Where you provide in-kind contributions including labour, goods or services, you must calculate the dollar value. In-kind labour/volunteer hours should be estimated at $39/hour and professional advice should be estimated at $70/hour.

Is GST payable on my grant?

If you are registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST), where applicable we will add GST to your grant payment and provide you with a recipient created tax invoice. You are required to notify us if your GST registration status changes during the project period. GST does not apply to grant payments to government related entities.

Do I have to provide supporting documents with my application? What documents must be submitted with an application?

Yes, you must provide the required supporting documents with your application. Section 7.1 of the grant opportunity guidelines lists the mandatory attachments to be uploaded with the application. All applications need to include the following:

• a site condition report (See Site condition report template sample in Key documents)
• a project plan (See Project plan template sample in Key documents)
• a project budget (See Project budget template in Key documents)
• a letter of support from each financial contributor, confirming the amount of financial support committed to the project and the date(s) contribution(s) will be made
• a title search outlining the relevant landowners of the proposed project site. If you have a significant number of separate sites and it is not feasible (and/or it is cost prohibitive) to undertake Land Title Searches for each, you can complete an excel spreadsheet with the relevant property and Land Interest Holder details. These must be verified and signed by the CEO or equivalent of the applicant organisation, declaring the information is a true and correct record.
• a letter of support from the landowner or site owner (See Land interest holder letter templates in Key documents)
• a URL of the project location/s utilising the mapping tool and a copy of the project location polygon as per the mapping tool
• evidence of support from the board, CEO or equivalent, including confirmation that the applicant organisation is able to meet all costs (eligible and ineligible) not funded under the grant agreement (See Board or CEO approval letter template in Key documents).

Additionally some applications need to include:

• a letter of support from relevant Traditional Owners or First Nations organisations with landowning/management rights or responsibilities, or evidence requesting support
• a trust deed.

The total of all attachments cannot exceed 20MB. We will not consider information in attachments that we do not request.

I started an application online but did not complete it. Can I re-access my application?

Yes, until applications close. Your existing application remains accessible as a draft until you formally submit it. Alternatively, you may also leave it as a draft and commence and submit a new application.

What if I miss the submission deadline?

Late applications will not be accepted.

Don’t risk your application not being assessed – start your application well before the due date. We encourage all applicants to submit your proposal before the due date to avoid last minute issues.

How will my grant application be assessed?

See Section 8, the grant selection process on page 15 of the grant opportunity guidelines. Also see Section 6, the assessment criteria, from page 11 of the grant opportunity guidelines.

Can I speak with someone about my application?

Yes. If you would like to talk to someone about your application, please contact us. And if we can't help, we can put you in touch with someone who can.