ENVIRONMENT GRANTS
PROJECT GRANT GUIDELINES 2015-2016
1 Amount Available ... 1
2 Eligibility... 1
3 Application Process ... 1
4 What is expected? ... 2
5 Grant Categories 2015-2016 ... 2
6 Assessment Criteria ... 4
Project Environment Grants 2015-2016
1 Amount Available
Up to $10 000 is available. Higher levels of funding may be considered where projects can demonstrate exceptional benefits to the community.
2 Eligibility
Northern territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) project environment grants are available to any incorporated organisation that wishes to conduct a project that is beneficial to the Northern Territory. Types of organisations include; community groups, industry associations, local government, not for profits and commercial enterprises. If an unincorporated body or person has an idea for a project they will need to get an
incorporated body to act as their administrative body. In this case the administrative body will apply on behalf of the unincorporated body or person and will have ultimate responsibility for the grant. For more information on this type of application please call the NT EPA Grants Manager on (08) 8924 4002. To be eligible the applicant must not have any overdue acquittals outstanding. If there are any issues with an existing grant, contact the Grants Manager on (08) 8924 4002.
3 Application Process
Applications for Project Environment Grants opened 02/03/2015. To lodge an application your organisation needs to be registered with the online grants management system called Grants Tracker. If you are unsure whether your organisation is already registered or have forgotten your password please contact the grants manager on (08) 8924 4002.
As there is no technical support outside office hours and weekends it is prudent to organise your logon details as soon as possible. To find out more about the online grants management system refer to the Grants Tracker FAQs.
There are two stages in the Project Environment Grants application process. An Expression of Interest (EOI) is submitted which provides an overview of the proposed project. NOTE: The Expression of Interest Stage is not a culling process but an opportunity to get feedback from the assessment panel. The EOI is assessed by an independent panel and recommendations are made to the applicant on how they could strengthen their final application.
A final application is then submitted which contains more detail on the proposed project.
Applications are assessed by an independent panel and recommendations are made to the NT EPA who makes the final funding decision
Cut off dates for the 2015-2016 Project Environment Grants round are as follows:
Expressions of Interest: 27/03/2015 Full Application: 22/05/2015
NOTE: Applications are still admissible after the EOI cut-off date however you will not receive advice from the assessment panel.
4 What is expected?
The Project Environment Grants Program is intended to fund community based projects that help reduce environmental harm and raise awareness. Projects in this category should be completed within a year and focus on niche community needs. The type of application that is sought must incorporate the following:
• Community engagement
• Address an area of environmental importance as outlined by the current years grant categories
• Demonstrates qualities outlined in the assessment criteria
5 Grant Categories 2015-2016
In 2015-2016 the grant program will be focused on issues surrounding waste and pollution in the Northern Territory. The NT EPA is looking for creative ways to engage the community and address the issues of waste and pollution in the environment. Some areas of focus and possible projects are outlined below. Applicants are not limited to these options:
Waste:
Focus Area Possible Projects Landfill
Management
• Educating the community in regards to waste streams that their local landfill or transfer stations can accommodate
• Upgrade waste facilities to minimise impact on the
environment such as leachate control and handling of listed wastes
Litter • Clean up days
• Education programs addressing the negative impacts of litter and facilitate behaviour change
• Develop infrastructure to better deal with litter in the community
Illegal
Dumping • Identification and cleaning of illegal dumping sites
• Community education on the negative impacts of illegal dumping
Community Engagement
• Community engagement projects that identify roadblocks and solutions to waste management
• Education campaign to increase the level of recycling
• Projects that engage the community on how they can reduce waste in their homes
• Community engagement and education activities that highlight issues surrounding waste and recycling
Project Environment Grants 2015-2016
Focus Area Possible Projects Waste
minimisation / reduction
• Setting up infrastructure to encourage recycling in the community
• Creating incentives to promote waste reduction among the business and domestic community
• Projects using materials that would otherwise go to landfill
• Setting up composting/recycling stations at schools and community centres
• Waste audits of businesses designed to identify ways they can reduce waste
Remote waste
• Projects that address the logistics of dealing with waste in remote communities
• Education on waste management in remote areas and the effects of bad management
• Waste solutions in areas with little or no waste removal services
Container Deposit Scheme (CDS)
• Community education about the CDS scheme
• Set up collection points to facilitate access to the scheme for the community that will provide fundraising dollars
• Project facilitating the rollout of the Container Deposit Scheme to remote areas
Waste data
collection • Collection of reliable data that will help communities, local and Territory Governments and the NT EPA establish more effective waste management plans, including:
o Type and amount of waste for specific generated in specific areas
o Waste trends in specific areas
o Number, nature and location of waste service providers operating in the Northern Territory
o Logistics surrounding the disposal of waste in particular areas
Improve management of listed wastes
• Education programs surrounding the dangers of these kinds of waste and how they should be dealt with
• Projects that make the collection and disposal of listed wastes easier, safer and greener
Product Stewardship
• Facilitation and expansion of existing product stewardship schemes i.e. E-Waste, tyres and paints
Pollution:
Focus Area Possible Projects
Prevention • Establishing prevention measures that reduce/stop the level of pollution entering the environment in a specific area or for a specific industry
Education • Educating industry or the public about best practice activities to avoid pollution.
• Raising public awareness on pollution issues
Management • Implementing improved infrastructure to monitor and manage pollution
• Research into better pollution management processes
• Collection of reliable data or monitoring programs that will help communities, local government and the Territory
Government establish more effective pollution management plans
Stormwater • Controlling runoff on construction sites, industrial areas and landfills
• Education in regards to domestic residences and storm water e.g. fertiliser use, car washing and disposal of chemicals
• Monitoring of storm water and identification/management of pollution
• Mapping urban creeks and identifying points or entry for stormwater and potential pollutants.
• Identification and management of areas where storm water pools and stagnates
• Management of natural drainage systems and riparian vegetation
6 Assessment Criteria
All applications will be assessed by an independent panel against the same assessment criteria. Assessment will also take into account whether previous grants awarded to the organisation have been fully acquitted. To maximise your chances of success the following assessment criteria should be taken into account when preparing your application:
1. What is the environmental benefit to community, region or whole of Territory?
• Environmental outcomes of the project in the target community/industry/region?
• Expected environmental health and social benefit delivered by project?
• Seed funding (i.e. providing opportunities to initiate project commencement and access other funding sources to facilitate broader program delivery)?
Project Environment Grants 2015-2016
2. Evidence of organisational capacity, commitment and community support?
• No outstanding reporting requirement or un-acquitted grants from previous rounds or other grant programs?
• Evidence of genuine commitment to the project to ensure continuity of outcomes?
• Evidence of capacity to deliver on outcomes (prior performance)?
• Level of demonstrated support and contributions (cash, in-kind, letters) from the community, industry or agency partners?
• Evidence of collaboration with other community sectors?
3. Quality of the application and proposed project?
• Is the application well written and researched with clear and realistic goals?
• Address an area of environmental concern in the Northern Territory that is in line with the current round’s focus/category?
• Has the need for the project or benefits derived from it been demonstrated?
• Improve environmental management in urban or remote communities?
• Original, innovative?
• Represents good value for money?
4. Does the project contribute to equity? Does it:
• Address inequitable provision of services and infrastructure to remote communities?
• Aid in geographically equitable distribution of program funding?
• Target disadvantaged urban/regional communities?
• Target Indigenous participation and economic development?
• Address cultural sensitivities?
