Individual Project Grants
Amount available: generally up to $10 000
(N.B. higher levels of funding may be considered where projects can demonstrate exceptional benefits to the community).
Individual grants are available to community groups, industry associations, organisations and local government for projects that provide benefits to the environment through direct action, research or education.
Projects are invited that:
- Provide opportunities for the NT Community to develop a better awareness and understanding of recent developments in environmental management;
- Help the community become wiser at efficiently using our non-renewable resources, re-using waste products and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions;
- Promote environmental sustainability and producer stewardship principles;
- Manage invasive species (weeds/feral animals); and
- Focus on wildlife conservation issues including the rescue, care and rehabilitation of wildlife.
Opportunities exist for successful grant applications to access national funding programs (see below). Projects using an EnvironmeNT Grant as an enabling grant or seed funding to leverage further support from other sources are strongly encouraged.
Categories
Five categories are available in 2012-2013:
- Climate Change
- Invasive Species Management
- Waste and Resource Recovery
- Water Conservation
- Wildlife Conservation
1. Climate Change
Objective
To support projects that will promote energy efficient devices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Projects that focus on community preparedness and adaptation in response to changing climatic conditions will also be supported.
Examples
Energy efficiency initiatives, programs and services (e.g. energy performance contracting services that will quantify usage, identify and prioritise saving opportunities and appropriate Demand-Side Management Technologies);Energy efficient design/sustainable living demonstrations, self-help-tools, workshops or expositions;
Energy Performance Auditor training (energy performance contracting services);
Sustainable transport expos or workshops promoting energy efficient transport and driving techniques;
Renewable energy demonstrations, self-help-tools, workshops or expositions;
Projects promoting sustainable living technologies for remote communities;
Sustainable technology self-help tools, workshops or expositions to help the community understand and adopt more efficient sustainable technologies and processes;
Greenhouse gas monitoring education campaign; and
Projects designed to reduce overall consumption habits in communities and schools.
2. Invasive Species Management
Objective
To establish invasive species (weeds/feral animals) management programs.
Examples
- Actively manage invasive species at sites of conservation significance in the Northern Territory (including fencing of important ecological sites);
- Increase community awareness of issues in relation to feral animals;
- Increase our knowledge of feral animals and weeds in the Northern Territory; and
- Develop new management techniques for invasive species relevant to the Northern Territory.
3. Waste and Resource Recovery
Objective
To support projects that will reduce litter and develop the resource recovery (recycling) industry in the Territory and can be used as demonstration models able to be implemented in other communities across the Territory.
Examples
- Resource Recovery (recycling) initiatives such as public place recycling at sporting events or shopping centres, establishing drop off centres or new community recycling services, feasibility studies for manufacturing recycled products or marketing opportunities;
- Community litter abatement programs;
- Renewable/recycled building materials self-help-tools, workshops or expositions; and
- Waste Auditor Certification/Training (e.g. waste stream analysis for cleaner production in industry, Infrastructure courses for local government/shopping centre management).
4. Water Conservation
Objective
To support projects that will improve water management in the Territory and can be used as demonstration models for wider application in the Territory.
Examples
- Green plumbing accreditation courses (or similar) suitable for the Territory,
- Grey water/water reuse system design, maintenance and monitoring education programs,
- Water efficient garden design/landscaping using endemic species self-help-tools, workshops, expositions or promotional activities; and
- Water sensitive urban design self-help-tools, workshops or expositions.
5. Wildlife Conservation
Objective
In 2012-2013, there is $100 000 available in the Wildlife category that will be divided into two components:
- $50,000 will be available to support groups that provide a collection service for sick, injured or orphaned wildlife and that provide a telephone advice service to the public who have encountered sick, injured or orphaned wildlife. It is expected that these services are provided 7 days a week and from at least 7:00am to 8:00pm.
This funding will be divided between the major population centres with $25 000 for services in Darwin and its rural areas, $10 000 for Alice Springs, $10 000 for Katherine and $5 000 for other projects or programs related to the management of injured and orphaned wildlife in the Northern Territory; and - $50 000 will be available to support open bids for wildlife programs that demonstrate strong community involvement or engagement.
Examples
Some examples of projects that may be funded through the open bid component of the Wildlife category include:
- Community programs aimed at promoting rehabilitation of native wildlife or habitats;
- Aboriginal engagement programs to promote awareness, skill development and/or management activities to wildlife;
- Community engagement programs to promote awareness or skill development for activities relating to wildlife;
- Training programs to improve capacity within the wider community with regards to wildlife issues;
- The development of resources to improve community education and awareness about specific issues relating to wildlife;
- Projects investigating the cultural value or sustainability of wildlife for Indigenous communities; and
- Projects that improve our knowledge or understanding of the biology, ecology or behaviour of native or introduced animals.
Preference will be given to programs that demonstrate significant community involvement and engagement and that are able to show increased community support or involvement by the conclusion of the project.
In addition, projects that can match the funding provided by Government on a dollar-for-dollar basis will be favoured over other projects.
General Information on process
The application process opened on 2 March 2012. The process involves two steps:
- the submission of an initial expression of interest form (Closes 16 March 2012)
- the full application form (Closes 19 April 2012)
Guidelines for completing these documents are available on-line and we are happy to provide project development advice and/or feedback on drafts.
Grant funding will only be paid when formal Agreements identifying the expected project outcomes and performance indicators have been signed. The Agreements also include a report template which must be completed and submitted by the identified due date to acquit the funding (generally no later than three months after the project ends).
Funding must be expended and the project completed within twelve months of commencement unless otherwise agreed.
Other Funding initiatives available for sustainability projects in the Northern Territory
- Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
- NT Government Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport
- Power and Water Corporation
Further Information
- Australian Government Department of Climate Change
- NT Government Department of Construction and Infrastructure
- Renewable Energy: Clean Energy Council