This grant supports the protection and enhancement of koala habitat in the Area of Regional Koala Significance between Tinderry and Kybeyan. The grant facilitates land managers to protect existing koala habitat through fencing and weed management, and to increase habitat connectivity through the establishment of biodiversity corridors with koala feed trees.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $15,000
- Application opened: 2 September 2022
- Application closed: 7 October 2022, 5:00 pm
Program objective
Local Land Services is partnering with Landcare to deliver funding under the NSW Koala Strategy to support the recovery of the endangered koala populations located in the Southern Tablelands.
The Monaro is home to a unique koala population, mainly located around the ARKS (Area of Regional Koala Significance) as per the map below. Historical and recent surveys have shown that this area’s koala population has a local and statewide significance. Under the NSW Koala Strategy, the Southern Tablelands includes 1 of 10 koala strongholds within NSW. It is vitally important for us to protect and enhance koala habitat through on-ground works and to conduct ongoing surveys to learn more about this population and how we can help them.
We are offering co-contribution incentives to private land managers for on-ground works that protect and enhance koala habitat in and around the ARKS. On-ground works will also be supported by koala surveys, regional seed collection initiatives and landholder education events.
This program is administered by Local Land Services.
Eligibility
- Eligibility for funding will be considered based on a range of criteria, including:
- proximity of the property to, and within the ARKS
- proximity of the property to an area of high biodiversity value (such as a national park or wildlife corridor)
- landholder’s demonstrated commitment to conservation and natural resource management
- landholders are required to provide co-funding or in-kind contributions (for example, labour for fencing) towards the project
- support for restoration activities available to a maximum of $2000/ha
- landholder's willingness and ability to maintain and monitor project sites, particularly revegetation works.
- Projects will typically be limited to plantings of up to 600 trees or less unless the landholder can demonstrate that they have previously implemented a successful large-scale revegetation project.
- Applications under this EOI are initially for the 2022-2023 financial year, with potential for additional funding for further stages.
- Local Land Services and Landcare will provide support to landholders in project development. Landholders will be expected to enter into a 10-year management agreement and will be required to undertake agreed management activities relevant to the funding they receive.
- Local Land Services and Landcare are committed to the protection of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage. All project applications are assessed to determine if a known (registered) Aboriginal site is located in close proximity to the project site. In the instances where this occurs, an Aboriginal Sites Officer may be engaged by LLS to ensure that the proposed activities do not impact on Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.
Further guidelines regarding the eligibility of projects to be discussed following shortlisting of applications.
Who can apply
rural landholders in the Snowy Monaro Regional Council area
incorporated not-for-profit community organisations.
Who can’t apply
Councils and government organisations.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Funded projects can include the following on-ground works:
- site preparation, bush regeneration, or revegetation planting to expand, restore and connect koala habitat
- livestock exclusion fencing to protect and enhance koala habitat
- weed control to protect and enhance koala habitat
- cultural/ecological burning.
What can’t you apply for
Funding for:
- erosion control works
- boundary fences
- pasture improvement
- exotic tree or shrub species
- the labour component of the project.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
Applicant details
Applicants had to provide the following details:
- applicant name
- property address
- applicant/s telephone number
- applicant/s email address
- length of time owning property
- property size
- type and number of livestock
(if applicable).
Address the assessment criteria
To establish scale of works and experience with environmental/biodiversity conservation projects or initiatives, the details below were required and presented as follows:
| Please tick relevant box(es) below & indicate the approximate scale of works you would like to apply for: | |
|---|---|
| N.B: Final project details (including the exact scale of works) will be determined in consultation with successful applicants. Also, you may apply for multiple types of works, i.e.; Tree planting may also require weed control and may also benefit from fencing, etc. | |
| ☐ Revegetation works | |
| Approximate area of revegetation: _______ sqm | |
| ☐ Fencing | |
| Approximate length of fencing: ________ meters | |
| ☐ Weed control | |
| Approximate area of weed control: _______ sqm | |
| ☐ Cultural/Ecological burning. | |
| Have you ever participated in any environmental/biodiversity conservation projects or initiatives e.g. Landcare projects, Land for Wildlife, Rural Landscape Program, etc.? | |
| ☐ Yes / ☐ No | |
| If Yes, please indicate what project(s) these are, and what (if any) land management agreements are in place: | |
| LLS will be working directly in partnership with Landcare and the NSW Koala Strategy (Dept. of Planning and Environment) on this project. Do you give permission for LLS to share the information provided in this application with our partners? | |
| ☐ Yes / ☐ No | |
| Would you like to receive information about other land management/biodiversity conservation initiatives, programs, workshops, etc. from LLS or our partners? | |
| ☐ Yes / ☐ No | |
| Additional information | |
| Please attach any additional information you would like to include to support your application, i.e. Land for Wildlife property assessments, property photos, etc | |
| Please email (attaching your completed form) to: | |
| Kirrily Gould - Koala Officer | Email: kirrily.gould@lls.nsw.gov.au | Mob: 0429 692 550 |
Start the application
Registrations are now closed.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: General Manager of the South East Local Land Services.
Successful applications will be decided by an assessment panel that makes funding recommendations, for the consideration and approval of the decision maker (Local Land Services, Manager with financial delegation). Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified.
Once EOIs have been received and processed a Local Land Services staff member will contact applicants to arrange a site visit.
Project proposals will be developed in consultation with South East Local Land Services staff. Final project proposals will be submitted to an assessment panel and reviewed against eligibility criteria and funding priorities.
Support and contact
Kirrily Gould - Koala Officer
Phone: 0429 692 550
Email: kirrily.gould@lls.nsw.gov.au
Postal address: 1-3 Sharp Street, PO Box 26, Cooma NSW 2630