Greener Neighbourhoods

Grants Program

Application Guidelines

Overview

The Greener Neighbourhoods grant

program will support metropolitan local

councils to keep Adelaide’s suburban

streets green and cool.

Up to $2 million in funds will be provided over four

years to support projects in the Green Adelaide region

that increase tree canopy and green cover and lead to

on-ground benefits for local neighbourhoods and

communities.

The first round of funding is now open with up to

$1 million in grants available.

Key dates

Applications open: Friday 24 May 2019

Applications close: Friday 2 August 2019

Assessment period: Mid-late 2019

Notification outcome: Late 2019

1 Greener Neighbourhoods Grants Program Application Guidelines

Purpose and

Objectives

Funding

The grant program aims to support local

councils to keep our suburban streets

green and cool.

Benefits of greening and cooling our neighbourhoods

include:

• improved social, health and wellbeing outcomes

through connecting communities and being

surrounded by nature

• improved biodiversity and environmental outcomes

through increased habitat and food supplies for local

wildlife

• reduction of stormwater and rainwater runoff

through filtering and absorption

• improved air quality and increased carbon

sequestration

• increased liveability of neighbourhoods and increased

property values.

The program will contribute to the achievement of the

following objectives:

• progress against the target in the 30 Year Plan for

Greater Adelaide to increase urban green cover by

20 per cent by 2045

• reduction of the urban heat island effect across

metropolitan Adelaide

• creation of habitat for wildlife and improving natural

character in the urban environment

• improved community health and wellbeing

• involvement of the local community and Kaurna

people in greening neighbourhoods.

Up to $1 million is available in the current

round of funding, with a total of $2 million

available until the 2021/22 financial year.

This funding will be available to eligible metropolitan

councils* (see appendix) via a competitive grant process.

Councils will be required to match the funding granted on a

dollar for dollar basis. In-kind contributions may be

considered.

Applications between $15,000 and up to a maximum of

$400,000 are encouraged. Councils may submit multiple

applications but should consider their ability to match

requested funding for all projects.

Council contribution

Council co-funding contribution could consist of

co-contributions from community groups and in-kind works.

If council contribution includes in-kind works this will need

to be identified within the project budget breakdown. This

could be delivered through in-kind support and partnerships

with community, non-government organisations or any

relevant government agencies.

External funding and strategic

partnerships and collaboration

The program encourages partnerships to achieve the grant

program objectives. Councils should consider other external

funding opportunities and seek partner organisations with

matching objectives.

Other sources of grant funding could include:

• other state and Commonwealth

government grant funding programs

• partnerships with other councils

to achieve regional priorities.

2

Eligibility

Assessment criteria

The grants are open to local councils located in the

Green Adelaide region* (see appendix) for projects on public

land. Consideration will also be given to projects which will

underpin future on-ground works on public land, such as

mapping.

Councils may submit multiple applications, however multi-

benefit projects will be weighted higher.

Priority will be given to projects that address the program

objectives by meeting one or more of the following

assessment criteria:

Strategic alignment

• Demonstrate relevance to local council strategic

planning and policy.

• Provide for community benefits in areas with

low canopy cover, socio-economic vulnerability

and high urban heat island effect (provide

evidence such as strategic plans or mapping).

• Demonstrate direct or indirect increases in tree

canopy cover and contribute to the 30 Year Plan

for Greater Adelaide greening targets.

• Demonstrate involvement and/or connection of

communities to their environment.

• Demonstrate increased protection or

enhancement of local biodiversity, habitat for

wildlife and/or improved natural character in the

urban environment.

Engagement

• Involve a partnership arrangement with Kaurna,

community groups, non-government

organisations, other government agencies, or

other third parties. This could include

co-funding arrangements or in-kind support.

For example, community involved in planting

and maintenance, or recognising and valuing

the knowledge and heritage of Kaurna people

through engagement, design and

implementation.

Viability

• Establish a monitoring and evaluation program.

• Demonstrate appropriate risk identification and

management.

• Demonstrate long term future support and

maintenance. For example, providing evidence

of future asset management requirements.

Ineligibility

The following works are not eligible for funding:

• Projects that have commenced prior to grant

funding approval and are a part of an existing

project (including any initial project work,

concept designs, studies, planning or land

purchases) unless the funding request is for an

additional enhancement of an existing project.

• Projects that are considered to be part of

council’s usual ongoing maintenance and

management of a site, including ongoing street

tree management or asset maintenance.

• Road works including routine upgrading of

footpaths, kerbs and carparks.

• Council administration, resource and project

management costs associated with delivery of

the project or purchase of equipment (this is

permitted as part of the in-kind contribution).

• Marketing, such as publications and branding.

• Land purchase for open space.

• Projects that require the public to pay a fee to

access the site.

• Broad-scale revegetation projects.

• Development of a neighbourhood tree plan or

strategy or similar.

*Green Adelaide region is currently proposed and will be established by Landscape SA legislation.

3 Greener Neighbourhoods Grants Program Application Guidelines

Project types

and examples

The types of projects that could receive

funding through the program include:

• On-ground capital works. This

could include planting trees,

shrubs and grass to increase

shade and cool streets with a

focus on connecting a network

of green corridors and spaces. It

could also include installing

water sensitive urban design and

green infrastructure features to

support new or existing

greening.

For example, providing for

ongoing urban tree canopy

resilience through installing new

infrastructure to ensure the

sustainable provision of water.

Infrastructure to support tree

planting may also be included,

such as tree pits, root ball

support and drainage.

• Activating underutilised public

spaces through maintaining and

creating habitat for flora and

fauna (e.g. public building

rooftops, laneways, plazas and

between buildings). It should

demonstrate integration and

connection across

neighbourhoods and landscapes

through designs which improve

the natural character of an area.

• Capacity building activities.

For example, mapping to

determine urban heat island,

biodiversity or vegetation

coverage with evidence

demonstrating how the initiative

will lead to on-ground outcomes.

Any non-works activities and projects

will need to demonstrate how they

will lead to future works and

contribute to program objectives.

4

5 Greener Neighbourhoods Grants Program Application Guidelines

Application process Councils can submit an application for

funding via the Department for

Environment and Water’s online grant

management system.

The online grant management system

(https://gmsportal.environment.sa.gov.au) allows you to

track your application throughout the grant process. It is

important to ensure that all supporting documents are

uploaded.

Assessment process Greener Neighbourhoods grant applications

will be assessed by an independent

assessment panel and grants will be

endorsed by the Minister for Environment

and Water.

While an application may meet the assessment criteria,

this does not guarantee that a grant will be awarded and

successful applicants may not receive funding to the full

amount requested.

Priority will be given to projects that:

• provide a high level of value for money based on

the scale and impact of the project

• are additional to existing council projects

• utilise strategic partnerships and collaborations

• are located in areas with existing low canopy

cover, higher socio-economic vulnerability and

high urban heat island effects (existing data such

as local council urban heat island and canopy

mapping will be used to support prioritisation)

• include clear timelines, milestones and

management of potential risks for the proposed

project

• include new on-ground infrastructure or

demonstrate how the project will lead to future

on-ground works

• demonstrate multiple benefits in achieving the

program objectives.

The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) may

work with local councils to refine project design,

partnerships, scope and scale before entering into a

grant agreement.

All councils will be formally advised on the outcome of

their application in writing.

DEW staff will provide verbal feedback to unsuccessful

grant applicants by request. The decision by the

assessment panel is final and cannot be appealed.

DEW reserves all rights to issuing grants under this

program. The number of grants funded and the value of

the grants will be at the discretion of the department.

TIME FRAME ACTION

24 May 2019 Applications open

via online portal

2 August 2019 Applications close at midnight

Mid-late 2019 Independent panel assessment

Projects assessed against criteria

Applicants advised of outcomes

Late 2019 Grant agreements established

Commencement of ongoing

monitoring and evaluation of

projects

Conditions

• Applicants must contribute a minimum of equal

funding up to a maximum of $400,000. If there is

more than one funding contributor, DEW will provide

up to 50 per cent of the total funding sought. For

example, local council, 40 per cent; community group,

10 per cent; DEW, 50 per cent. Each application should

clearly outline the nature of any partnerships and the

respective functions each group will undertake as

part of the proposed project. A lead council should

be identified as the contact for correspondence,

reporting and overall responsibility for the project.

• Successful councils will enter into a

grant agreement which outlines:

- conditions of funding

- key outcomes

- project and grant payment milestones

- data sharing agreement

- acknowledgement of grant in any

media/promotional material

- sharing of any media/promotional opportunities

- process for any project variation requests and extensions

- any other terms and conditions for the project

- responsibility for public liability insurance.

• Projects must begin within two months and be finalised

within 18 months of formalising the grant agreement.

Commencement may include a tender process, ordering

of plants, community consultation or tree planting.

• Councils must agree to adopt responsibility for all of

the created assets, including all ongoing operational

and maintenance costs beyond the grant timeframe.

• All project variations such as timing and project outcomes

must be formally approved by DEW in writing.

Reporting and

monitoring

Reporting on project progress and achievement of

milestones will be required on an ongoing basis until

the project is completed.

Grant recipients will be required to submit a final report outlining

outcomes and financial acquittal of funds within 30 business days

from the end date of the project. The final report should be

accompanied by any data or outputs created and evidence of

project completion, such as images.

Any underspend is to be returned to the Greener Neighbourhoods

fund in accordance with the details of the grant agreement.

Any public promotional opportunities should be offered

to all partners.

6

APPENDIX – List of eligible councils

1. City of Playford

2. City of Salisbury

3. City of Tea Tree Gully

4. City of Port Adelaide Enfield

5. Campbelltown City Council

6. City of Charles Sturt

7. City of Prospect

8. Town of Walkerville

9. City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters

10. City of West Torrens

11. City of Adelaide

12. City of Burnside

13. City of Unley

14. City of Holdfast Bay

15. City of Marion

16. City of Mitcham

17. City of Onkaparinga

Contact us

Natural Resources Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges

Department for Environment and Water

P. (08) 8273 9100

E. DEW.greenadelaide@sa.gov.au

environment.sa.gov.au/green-adelaide

95537 April 2019