The Fencing Biosecure Production Zones and Pest Knockout Grant Program (the Grant Program) is a NSW Government initiative, designed to provide support to landholders in the Western Local Land Services region to achieve good biosecurity outcomes and manage pests, diseases and weeds at a landscape scale.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $2,800,000
- Application opened: 16 December 2022
- Application closed: 25 January 2023, 12:00 pm
Program objective
The objectives of the program are to:
- Reduce the impact of pest plants, pest animals, and disease on natural resources and agriculture.
- Reduce the potential impact of biosecurity risk emergencies on communities, environment and the economy.
- Increase landholder knowledge and adoption of general biosecurity duty and management of pest plants and animals and plant and animal pests and diseases.
- Reduce the impact of invasive weed species on natural resources and agriculture.
- Improve agricultural productivity and sustainability.
- Enable land managers to better manage natural resources.
This program is administered by Local Land Services.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Funding under the Grant Program is available to landholders including individuals, groups, Aboriginal organisations, non-government organisations, and not-for-profit organisations.
Who can’t apply
You are not eligible for funding if:
- You are not the owner/Western Lands Lessee of the land.
- Your property is located outside the Western Local Land Services region.
- You have overdue or non-compliant contracts with Local Land Services.
- You have outstanding debt, including rates, owing to Local Land Services.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Local Land Services will fund up to 30% of the total fence cost*, up to $8,000** per kilometre.
Fence must match Local Land Services minimum standard design or be of an equivalent standard.
Is constructed with the primary objective of excluding and controlling the movement of pest animals and managing total grazing pressure by domestic and native animals.
Exclusion fencing must form an enclosure or complement existing total grazing pressure standard fencing.
*Total fence cost includes materials, site preparation and labour.
**Funding amounts are GST exclusive.
What can’t you apply for
Grant Items that will not be funded.
- Fencing that does not meet the fencing standards.
- Activities outside the Western Local Land Services region.
- Research and development projects.
- Water infrastructure.
- Costs incurred in the preparation of a grant application or related documentation.
- Cost of fencing lane ways, roadway enclosures or similar.
- Activities that have been completed or commenced prior to signing of your funding deed (Contract).
- Activities previously funded through other Commonwealth or State Government programs and investment.
- Activities related to labour, operational, maintenance, monitoring, and reporting costs post project completion.
What your application needs to include
On-line Expression of Interest form available on the Local Land Services website.
Grant guidelines can be accessed here (PDF 550.14KB).
Prepare your expression of interest with this checklist
The information in the EOI will be reviewed by the Assessment Panel to determine whether the applicant meets the following criteria:
- The applicant is eligible to apply.
- The applicant meets all eligibility criteria.
- The proposal fits within the parameters for eligible works.
- The application is complete and submitted on time.
Address the eligibility criteria
To be eligible for grant funding, the landholder must meet each of the following requirements:
- The project is located within the Western Local Land Services region.
- I am the owner of the land OR I have been given written permission by the owner of the land to apply.
- The property is greater than 10,000 hectares in size.
- The project area is at least 5000 hectares in size.
- I do not have any outstanding debt with Western Local Land Services, including rates.
- I am willing to enter a contractual arrangement with Western Local Land Services for 10 years which is the duration of the project.
- I will commit to starting the project within one month of executing the contract.
- I will commit to completing fencing by 10 June 2024.
- I hold or commit to obtaining a minimum of $20 million in public liability insurance, prior to executing a funding deed with Western Local Land Services.
- I do not have any overdue or non-compliant projects with Western Local Land Services.
- I am willing to participate in a coordinated landscape approach to invasive species knockout.
- I commit to being an active project participant for the duration of the project.
- I am not aware of any covenants or other agreements over the property that would negate/disallow this funding.
- If you do not meet these requirements, you will not be eligible.
After the application is submitted
Notification of your EOI outcome.
You will receive notification from Local Land Services when your EOI has been assessed to inform you about the outcome of your application, and the next steps.
Support and contact
If you have any questions, contact Project Coordinator,
Mr Brian Dohnt
Phone: 02 6836 6004
Mobile: 0455 901 258
Email: brian.dohnt@lls.nsw.gov.au