Greener Neighbourhoods

Grants Program

Application guidelines 2021/22

Overview

The Greener Neighbourhoods Grants

program supports local councils* to

keep our suburban streets and open

space green and cool.

Funds are provided to support local council projects

that increase tree canopy and green cover and lead to

on-ground benefits for local communities and native

fauna.

The 2021/22 round of funding is now open

with up to $2 million available.

* Councils in the Green Adelaide region and regional cities with populations over 10,000 people are eligible

to apply for funding (see Appendix for list).

Key dates

Applications open: 1 August 2021

Applications close: 10 September 2021

Assessment period: Oct-Nov 2021

Notification outcome: December 2021

1 Greener Neighbourhoods Grants Program Application Guidelines

Purpose and

objectives

Funding

The Greener Neighbourhoods Grants

program aims to support local councils to

keep our suburban streets and open space

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, or other greening targets as

applicable for regional cities

• reduction of the urban heat island effect across

metropolitan Adelaide and regional cities

• creation of habitat for wildlife and improving natural

character in the urban environment

• improved community health and wellbeing

• involvement of the local community and First Nations

people in greening neighbourhoods.

Up to $2 million is available in the 2021/22

round of funding.

This funding is be available to eligible councils (see Appendix)

via a competitive grant process.

Councils are required to match the funding granted on a

dollar-for-dollar basis. Both cash and in-kind contributions

will be considered.

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

$200,000 are encouraged. Councils may submit applications

for multiple projects, and 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.

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Assessment and eligibility criteria

Assessment criteria

The grants are open to eligible local councils (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, high urban heat island effect,

or high socio-economic vulnerability (provide

evidence such as strategic plans or mapping).

• Demonstrate increases in tree canopy cover and

contribute to the 30 Year Plan for Greater

Adelaide greening targets or other greening

targets as applicable for regional cities.

• 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 First

Nations, community groups, non-government

organisations, other government agencies, or

other third parties. This could include

co-funding or in-kind support. For example,

community planting and maintenance, or

recognising and valuing the knowledge and

heritage of First Nations 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.

Eligibility criteria

The following works are not eligible for funding:

• Projects where works or material purchases

have commenced prior to grant funding

approval as part of an existing project, unless

the funding request is for an additional

enhancement of the existing project (projects

where work such as concept designs, feasibility

studies and master planning have been

completed are eligible for funding subject to

satisfying other criteria).

• 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

(management and maintenance of assets

created with grant funding, undertaken within

the grant funding period, is permitted as part of

the in-kind contribution).

• 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 and promotion, including

publications, branding, artwork or signage

(unless it is educational/interpretive in nature).

• Land purchase for open space.

• Projects on land which the public cannot access

or which require the public to pay a fee to

access.

• Broad-scale revegetation projects.

• Development of a neighbourhood tree plan or

strategy or similar.

• Project contingency budget (also not eligible as

part of the in-kind contribution).

3 Greener Neighbourhoods Grants Program Application Guidelines

Project types

and examples

Note that priority for funding will be

given to projects aimed at planting

street trees and planting in open space

with high community use and benefit.

The types of projects that could receive

funding include:

• On-ground capital works. This

could include planting trees,

shrubs and grass to increase

shade and cool streets and open

spaces with a focus on

connecting a network of green

corridors and spaces.

It could also include installing

new water sensitive urban

design and green infrastructure

features to support new or

existing greening (for example,

stormwater inlets, tree pits, root

ball support and drainage).

• Activating underutilised public

spaces. This could be 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.

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 Applications will be assessed by a panel

comprised of Department for Environment

and Water staff and grants will be approved

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 low canopy cover, high

urban heat island effects, or high socio-economic

vulnerability (evidence such as tree canopy and

urban heat island mapping should be provided

where possible)

• include clear timelines, milestones and

management of potential risks for the proposed

project

• include new on-ground infrastructure

• 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 and Minister for

Environment and Water 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 DEW.

KEY DATES ACTION

1 August 2021 Applications open

Via online portal

10 September 2021 Applications close (at 5pm

ACST)

Oct-Nov 2021 Independent panel assessment

Projects assessed against criteria.

Applicants advised of outcomes.

December 2021 Grant agreements established

Commencement of reporting

for successful projects.

Conditions

• Applicants must contribute a minimum of equal

funding, up to a maximum of $200,000 per

application. 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 3 months and be finalised

within 18 months of formalising the grant agreement.

Commencement may include project planning and/or

management, 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 DEW in accordance with

the details of the grant agreement.

Any public promotional opportunities should be offered

to all partners.

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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

18. Town of Gawler

19. Mount Barker District Council

20. City of Mount Gambier

21. Rural City of Murray Bridge

22. City of Victor Harbor

23. Port Pirie Regional Council

24. Port Augusta City Council

25. City of Whyalla

26. City of Port Lincoln

Contact us

Green Adelaide

Department for Environment and Water

P. (08) 8463 3855

E. DEW.greenadelaide@sa.gov.au

greenadelaide.sa.gov.au