ENVIRONMENT GRANTS - ENVIRONMENT PROJECT GRANTS (ROUND 18), MULTI- YEAR ENVIRONMENT COLLABORATIVE (MEC) GRANTS (ROUND 2: 2023-2026) AND ENVIRONMENT ORGANISATION ALLIANCE GRANTS (2023-2026) (REFERRED FROM P&E 6 JUNE 2023)

Executive summary

The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the submissions received for the Environment Project Grants (Round 18), Multi-year Environment Collaborative (MEC) Grants (Round 2:2023-

1. and Environment Organisation Alliance Grants (2023-2026). This report also recommends allocation of funding for the environmental initiatives for the three Environment Grant streams as detailed in: • Attachment 1: Environment Project Grant (Round 18) Recommendations • Attachment 2: Multi-year Environment Collaborative (MEC) Grant (Round 2: 2023-2026)

Recommendation

• Attachment 3: Environment Organisation Alliance Grant (2023-2026) Recommendations.

RECOMMENDATION

That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer - Policy and Planning to the Planning & Environment Committee Meeting dated 6 June 2023 regarding the Environment Project Grants, MEC Grants and Environment Organisation Alliance Grants and:

1. Award the Environment Project grants, Multi Year Environment Collaborative (MEC) grants and Alliance grants, for the initiatives recommended in Attachments 1 – 3 for funding totalling the amounts below: i. Environment Project Grants (Attachment 1) = $24,030.00 (one year) ii. MEC Grants (Attachment 2) = $261,518.20 (per year) totalling $784,554.61 (over three years)
2. Environment Organisation Alliance Grants (Attachment 3) = $88,900 (per year) totalling $266,700.00 (over three years);
3. Support the reallocation of $50,970 from the Environment Project grants to the Alliance grants for the next three financial years (2023/24, 2024/25, and 2025/26);
4. Authorise the CEO to enter Funding Deeds for the Environment Project grants, MEC grants and Alliance grants with successful organisations, as per the recommended funding amount; and
5. Support the review of the Environment Grants Policy and Environment Levy Policy and associated guidelines by Environmental Services to identify areas for improvement in future grant rounds.

Report

Environment Project Grants (Round 18): 1-year grants for projects, programs or events that align with the Noosa Environment Strategy, as well as Council’s other key environment strategies and plans, and have a positive impact on the environment. 2.

Multi-year Environment Collaborative (MEC) Grants (Round 2: 2023 - 2026): 3-year grants that support longer-term, larger-scale strategic initiatives that align with the Noosa Environment Strategy and have a significant positive impact on the Noosa environment. 3.

Environment Organisation Alliance Grants (2023-2026): 3-year grants that provide organisational support to community groups that are primarily focused on environment activities. Applications for the Environment Grants were open for the following dates: 1. Environment Project Grants (Round 18): 1 March 2023 until 17 April 2023 2. Multi-year Environment Collaborative (MEC) Grants (Round 2: 2023 - 2026): 1 March 2023 until 17 April 2023 3. Environment Organisation Alliance Grants (2023-2026): 20 March 2023 until 1 May 2023 Promotion for the grants included: • An advertisement in Noosa Today • Social media advertising • Presentation at the Noosa Council's Grants Connect 2023 community grants networking event. • Specific email to all non-for-profit community groups previously applied for the grants or may be interested in applying for the grants • Direct conversations with NRM Groups to ensure awareness • Details published on Noosa Council’s website. The following applications and funding were received for the Environment Grants: 1. Environment Project Grants: Two (2) were received totalling $24,030.00 over 12 months. Attachment 1 provides an overview of the project and applicant details. 2. MEC Grants: Seven (7) applications were received totalling $886,311.61 over the three years. Attachment 2 provides an overview of the project and applicant details. 3. Environment Organisation Alliance Grants: Nine (9) applications were received totalling $183,269.00 over three years. Attachment 3 provides an overview of the project and applicant details. The applications were checked for eligibility against the relevant grants policy and guidelines. Applications were then reviewed and assessed by senior staff in the Environment Services Team with experience assessing grants and environmental subject-matter expertise. These recommendations were moderated by the Environment Services Manager. A summary of the grant assessment recommendations are provided below. Environment Project Grants Fully fund 2 applications received totalling $24,030.00 (one year). For further information regarding the applications and individual funding recommended refer to Attachment 1. MEC Grants Fully fund five (5) and partially fund two (2) of the applications received totalling $261,518.20 (per year) and $784,554.61 (over three years) . For further information regarding the applications and individual funding recommended refer to Attachment 2. Environment Organisation Alliance Grants Fully fund four (4) and partially fund three (3) of the applications received totalling $88,900 (per year) and $266,700.0 (over three years). The Environment Organisational Alliance Grant application for Hinterland Bush Links was not supported as they were successful in their MEC application for the same funding amount. The application from ZEN Inc is subject to a separate budget consideration. For further information regarding the applications and individual funding recommended refer to Attachment 3. Overall, most applications scored highly against the relevant grant criteria and Noosa Council was grateful for the time invested by applicants to apply for the three Environment Grants.

Report details

Index: Subject/26.04/Environment Grants