Hunter Local Land Services is supporting land managers to take the first step towards building drought resilience on their farms.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $4,000
- Application opened: 1 December 2021
- Application closed: 30 June 2023, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The Hunter Local Land Services' Agricultural Extension team is delivering a Farm Makeover Incentive Program as part of The Paddock Between the Ears Project.
The aim is to show landholders that one small decision to makeover a natural resource can improve their drought planning and farm production outcomes. Through sharing these farm makeover journeys, together we can bring a new can-do mindset to drought preparation and management in the Hunter region.
The grants program is to fund a small project or ‘doable chunk’ to improve a natural resource asset on landholder’s farm. Natural assets are native vegetation, paddock trees, grasses and bushland, dams, streams and wetlands, rocky outcrops and fallen timber.
This is an opportunity to innovate and look to ecosystem services to improve drought planning and makeover an existing farm asset.
This is an open (applications must be submitted by a specified date) competitive (eligible applications are assessed on their comparative merits against nominated criteria) program.
Maximum LLS incentive contribution is $4000* per project application with additional funds and/or labour input to be supplied by the applicant.
*Note: LLS may consider applications for larger projects and budgets over $4000 on merit, where the project also provides greater environmental or connectivity benefit.
This program is administered by Local Land Services.
This program is funded by Department of Regional NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
- Landholder of project sites within the Hunter region of Local Land Services (LLS) that is rateable by LLS and has a Property Identification Code (PIC)
Who can’t apply
- Landholders are ineligible if they have received funding in two or more LLS funding rounds as this program is designed to engage new applicants in sustainable land management. Only one Farm Makeover Program application will be considered per landholder
Types of projects funded under this grant
- Improve stock water quality by planting native grasses, reeds and trees on a dam
- Ensuring your pump-hole is cleaner and lasts longer by restricting stock access
- Start a succession plan by fencing off paddock shade trees for regeneration
- Create and plant shelter belt habitats and drought fodder reserves
- Rebuild a wetland to filter runoff and reduce algae in water sources
- Design your own project that builds drought resilience in the farm landscape
What can’t you apply for
- Irrigation and domestic water supply projects will not be funded.
Most recent recipients
Grant recipients
This overview is based on the period between November 2022 and May 2023.
Recipients received funding from this grant
Total funds approved for recipients of this grant
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Applications are to include the following:
- Application Form
- Budget
- Map of project site
- At least 2 photos
- Public Liability (20 million)
- WHS Plan/Policy documents
Address the eligibility criteria
- Applicants must have paid all current Hunter LLS financial obligations (e.g. rates, long term grazing permits) prior to receiving a funding agreement and any Conflict of Interest is declared with applications.
- All successful applicants must be prepared by prior agreement for Hunter LLS staff and contractors to record their project journey via site photos, interviews, video or case study. The aim of the program is to promote sustainable farming through shared learning experience. Interested landholders can self-record their project.
- All successful applicants must do a short interview with research staff to assess the success of the program in achieving outcomes.
- Project site physical monitoring will be required by prior agreement for a period of two years. Eg. water quality, groundcover, bird or wildlife activity surveys to be completed by LLS staff, contractors or landholders.
- All applications should base budgets on quotes for actual costs (ex-GST) and estimates of in-kind contributions. Invoices and receipts should be retained for project activities, as projects may be audited on completion.
- Proposed activities must be consistent with local, NSW and Australian Government regulations and legislation, including any disturbance to listed vegetation for which a permit is required.
- All applicants must identify and manage all Work Health and Safety (WHS) risks for their projects ensuring a plan is in place for compliance with all WHS laws by all people involved in project works and maintenance. A WHS template is available. The funding recipient will hold appropriate insurance including public liability to cover all risks associated with the project.
Address the assessment criteria
A panel will assess and score all applications, ranking projects. Successful projects will be selected using the following criteria with each component scored on how well the project meets program objectives:
- Use of ecosystem services to improve condition of a natural asset
- Potential to improve drought planning and resilience
- Scope of works in project description and budget detail
- Scale of works as mini-project and landholder contribution
- Landholder interest and availability to record and share project journey
Application can be submitted any time but will be assessed in November 2022 and January 2023
Start the application
Applications for the Farm Makeover Incentive Program 2022/23 have now closed.
For other incentives, funding and scholarships in the Hunter region, visit the Local Land Services website.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Manager, Agriculture Production and Protection
The applications will be assessed and both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified.
Support and contact
Contact Hunter LLS Ag Extension team staff for assistance with your application and further information:
Upper Hunter
Maria Cameron - 0409 636 765 or maria.cameron@lls.nsw.gov.au
Nikki Gilder - 0476 796 729 or nicola.gilder@lls.nsw.gov.au
Lower Hunter
Col Freeman - 0428 043 427 or col.freeman@lls.nsw.gov.au
Manning
Albert Mullen - 0428 670 524 or albert.mullen@lls.nsw.gov