The is initiative is 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: 2 May 2023, 11:59 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 Service NSW.
Eligibility
Projects that involve multiple properties working together to establish exclusion fencing and create a bio- secure zone will be assessed favourably in any competitive selection process.
Local Land Services may seek to target landholders who are identified as being of strategic value to this grant program.
Who can apply
incorporated not-for-profit community organisations
landholders
individuals
groups
Aboriginal organisations
non-government organisations.
Who can’t apply
You are not eligible to apply 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
exclusion fencing
pest animal control.
What can’t you apply for
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 laneways, 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.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
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.
Prepare your application with this checklist
Fencing activities
must be 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
- involves construction of fencing to improve agricultural productivity and soil health through best practice grazing management
- is constructed to best-practice specifications to the minimum standard required to effectively manage grazing pressure and with considerations for minimising wildlife impact
- minimum of 70% cash or in-kind contribution towards fencing projects.
Weed and pest animal management activities
must result in strategic eradication, containment or protection of high priority natural or agricultural assets where those activities are not the legal responsibility of a landowner, unless the works are strategically targeted by Local Land Services to address landscape-scale risk.
Activities on unoccupied lands
Local Land Services will only consider funding activities on unoccupied lands (absentee landowner) if:
- the property is at a key strategic site and the works have the potential to benefit natural resource condition or agricultural productivity at a larger scale than the individual property involved
- the landowner demonstrates clear commitment and ability to implement the project activities and maintain project outcomes.
Projects that involve multiple properties
This type of project will require neighbours working together and to each have a management plan that compliments one another.
- Contracts will be with individual legal entities.
- The area of enclosure must be demonstrated and that all land managers who make up the total area must apply individually.
Cash and in-kind contributions
Project applications that maximise cash and in-kind contributions from other sources will be assessed favourably in any competitive selection process.
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 10,000h in size.
- The project area is at least 5000h 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
Successful applications will be decided by: Erlina St Vincent – General Manager Western – Local Land Services.
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. Sometimes, the assessment panel may require changes to your proposed project, and these will be discussed with you.
Unsuccessful grant applicants will be offered a feedback information session.
Private versus public benefit will be considered in a merit-based assessment (stage 2). Activities that lead to improvements at a landscape or industry scale may be given priority over activities leading to improvement at a property or local scale.