Funding supports local councils in Greater Sydney to undertake tree planting and greening projects in their local government area, with a focus on cooling and greening streets, parks, and active transport routes.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $50,000
- Application opened: 7 October 2022
- Application closed: 21 November 2022
Program objective
Grant funding awarded
The NSW Government awarded $9.9 million to 17 councils for a total of 21 tree planting and green cover projects across Greater Sydney.
The objectives of the Greening our City grant program are to:
- enhance Greater Sydney’s urban tree canopy and green cover, particularly in areas with low canopy cover
- help prepare for climate extremes and mitigate urban heat islands through tree planting and other green cover initiatives to cool urban areas and provide shade
- promote partnership projects between local and state governments, organisations, industry, the private sector and the community
- support projects that demonstrate a commitment to canopy expansion, including improved outcomes for health, resilience and climate adaptation.
This program is funded and administered by Department of Planning and Environment.
Eligibility
Who can apply
To be eligible for funding, applications must:
- be submitted by an eligible council
- have minimum grant amount requested of $50,000 (ex GST)
- have written endorsement from the council’s General Manager (or equivalent)
- include tree planting as a central component of the project
- demonstrate alignment with one or more of the following:
- Greener Neighbourhoods Program
- Local Strategic Planning Statements
- Climate Change Fund objectives
- Greater Sydney District-specific priorities outlined in the Greater Sydney Region Plan and supporting District Plans
- be completed within 24 months (with a following 12-month establishment period)
- allocate grant funding to eligible works only.
Eligible councils
All councils in the Greater Sydney region are eligible to apply. Program funding is attached to the Greening our City program. It is therefore limited to the Greater Sydney region. Eligible councils are:
| Bayside Council | Blacktown City Council | Blue Mountains City Council | |
| Burwood Council | Camden Council | Campbelltown City Council | |
| City of Canada Bay | Canterbury-Bankstown Council | Cumberland City Council | |
| Fairfield City Council | Georges River Council | Hawkesbury City Council | |
| The Hills Shire Council | Hornsby Shire Council | Hunter’s Hill Council | |
| Inner West Council | Ku-ring-gai Council | Lane Cove Council | |
| Liverpool City Council | Mosman Municipal Council | North Sydney Council | |
| Northern Beaches Council | City of Parramatta Council | Penrith City Council | |
| Randwick City Council | City of Ryde Council | Strathfield Council | |
| Sutherland Shire Council | City of Sydney | Waverley Council | |
| Willoughby City Council | Wollondilly Shire Council | Woollahra Municipal Council | |
Types of projects funded under this grant
The following capital works items are eligible for grant funding under this program:
- tree and green cover planting on council-owned or council-managed land
- street tree and green cover planting
- tree and green cover planting in new and existing open space areas such as corridors, parks,
- plazas, car parks, roads and pocket forests
- tree and green cover planting undertaken as part of community tree-planting programs
- infrastructure that supports tree and green cover planting projects, such as:
- tree pits
- soil/mulch
- structural soil cells or similar
- root barriers
- active, passive and smart irrigation
- rain gardens
- drainage
- tree guards
- root ball support
- other protective measures.
What can’t you apply for
The following items are not eligible for grant funding under this program, but can be funded by councils and included as their in-kind contribution:
- bush regeneration / revegetation works
- direct funding of personnel or staff positions
- planning and strategy projects
- retrospective works or activities
- community tree giveaways.
Most recent recipients
What was approved
Approved for Bayside Council
Bayside Council has one of the lowest tree canopy covers in Sydney at around 13% of the LGA. Council is committed to increasing the area of tree canopy through an annual program of street tree planting. In addition to street trees, Council is also looking to 'green' the LGA by trialling an innovative native planting technique known as 'Woody Meadows'. Woody Meadows can be used in smaller areas where street trees are not appropriate, create visual amenity due to the dense planting and abundant flowering created by managed coppicing and provide habitat for native species.
$310,863 was approved by
Minister for Planning and Minister for HomesDate approved
December 2022Location of the recipient
Bayside CouncilAbout the grant
Applications approved
21
Applications received
39
Greening our City grant 2022
Agency funding this grant
Department of Planning and EnvironmentProgram term
24 monthsWhat was approved
Approved for Blacktown Council
Blacktown Council has identified a need for further tree planting within the 66 urban grassed islands throughout the western area of our LGA. These grassed islands presents a great opportunity to increase canopy cover over grey infrastructure within some of the hottest areas of our city. We recognise that the only way to combat urban heat is through the strategic planting of large canopy shade trees that will cover hard pavement areas such as roads and footpaths.
$300,000 was approved by
Minister for Planning and Minister for HomesDate approved
December 2022Location of the recipient
Blacktown City CouncilAbout the grant
Applications approved
21
Applications received
39
Greening our City grant 2022
Agency funding this grant
Department of Planning and EnvironmentProgram term
24 monthsWhat was approved
Approved for Blacktown Council
Blacktown Council has identified a need for further tree planting along streets and within reserves. We recognise that the only way to combat urban heat is through the strategic planting of large canopy shade trees that will cover hard pavement areas such as roads and footpaths. The Open Space Tree planting project aims to respond to the communities' needs by planting large canopy trees along roadways in areas identified as having a high heat vulnerability. The Project will be undertaken in consultation with the community to ensure the trees are accepted and cared for into the future.
$300,000 was approved by
Minister for Planning and Minister for HomesDate approved
December 2022Location of the recipient
Blacktown City CouncilAbout the grant
Applications approved
21
Applications received
39
Greening our City grant 2022
Agency funding this grant
Department of Planning and EnvironmentProgram term
24 monthsWhat was approved
Approved for Blacktown Council
Blacktown Council has identified a need for tree planting within our drainage reserves to increase canopy cover, create green corridors and increase the quality of our waterways. The Drainage channel restoration planting project aims to plant over one thousand large canopy trees along drainage channels and retention basins increasing canopy cover by around 28,000 Sqm over the next 5-10 years.
$600,000 was approved by
Minister for Planning and Minister for HomesDate approved
December 2022Location of the recipient
Blacktown City CouncilAbout the grant
Applications approved
21
Applications received
39
Greening our City grant 2022
Agency funding this grant
Department of Planning and EnvironmentProgram term
24 monthsWhat was approved
Approved for Blacktown Council
Blacktown Council has identified a need for further tree planting within our North-west growth centre to offset the loss of trees through development and create canopy cover over newly developed grey infrastructure. We recognise that the only way to combat urban heat is through the strategic planting of large canopy shade trees that will cover hard pavement areas such as roads, housing and footpaths. The Greening our growth-centres planting project aims to plant over 780 large canopy trees along roadways and reserves throughout the north west growth centre increasing canopy cover by around 21,800 Sqm over the next 5-10 years.
$300,000 was approved by
Minister for Planning and Minister for HomesDate approved
December 2022Location of the recipient
Blacktown City CouncilAbout the grant
Applications approved
21
Applications received
39
Greening our City grant 2022
Agency funding this grant
Department of Planning and EnvironmentProgram term
24 monthsWhat your application needs to include
Download a sample application form to see all the sections that need to be addressed in the applications portal. You can also download the complete
File
Greening our City Grant Guidelines 2022 (PDF 873.15KB)Other useful resources
- The Central Resource for Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data in NSW (SEED)
File
Average tree canopy and urban heat levels for suburbs in Greater Sydney (PDF 507.38KB)File
Water Efficiency Study Urban Tree Management Report (PDF 3.64MB)File
Water-Efficient-Solutions-for-Trees (PDF 461.43KB)
Address the assessment criteria
| Criteria | Weighting | Assessment criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Merit | 50% |
|
| Engagement | 10% |
|
| Viability | 20% |
|
| Value for money | 20% |
|
Address the application requirements
Number of applications
We encourage councils to combine similar projects into one application. Each council can make multiple applications, provided each application meets the eligibility criteria. Each application will be assessed individually against the assessment criteria.
Council endorsement
The council’s General Manager (or equivalent) must approve the application before it will be considered. This is a mandatory step in the application process. This approval is required as the council will be the responsible entity to manage the funding agreement, budget and reporting.
If you cannot get General Manager approval before the grant application deadline we will accept applications with approval from a director with an appropriate level of financial delegation via the grant application portal to meet the grant submission deadline.
The General Manager or equivalent must then approve the application by email to Local Government NSW at GreeningOurCity@lgnsw.org.au or provide a signed letter of support within one week of applications closing. If General Manager approval is not provided within that timeframe, we will deem the application ineligible.
Commitment to tree health
Councils must commit to establishing and providing long-term maintenance for all trees and green cover planted under the program.
Projects must demonstrate that there is a reliable water supply to the newly planted trees during the 12-month establishment period. We encourage applications that propose to incorporate efficient water supply, planters, products or systems that enhance water efficiency/retention (especially during establishment) or water-efficient technologies such as recycled water or stormwater.
Ability and capability to deliver within the timeframe
Councils must demonstrate that they can deliver projects within 24 months of execution of the funding agreement. They must also show that they can maintain any trees planted for a subsequent 12-month establishment period.
Applicants are responsible for outlining the necessary labour, equipment and materials, management and supervision to complete the project. This should include how the council is seeking to leverage existing resources and efficiencies. This may require applicants to work cooperatively with the community and relevant government agencies.
Community engagement
Applications must demonstrate how the community will be engaged and involved during the delivery of the project.
Delivery of tree canopy and/or green cover expansion
Projects must demonstrate the extent of impact they will have on local tree canopy and urban greening. The Greener Neighbourhoods Guide lists data and evidence that can be used to measure canopy cover and set targets.
Start the application
The application process is as follows:
Visit the Planning and Environment website.
- Read the information about the grant program to determine if you are eligible. Read these grant guidelines.
- Familiarise yourself with the grant program requirements.
- Complete and submit the application by 11.59 pm (AEST) on Monday 21st November, 2022.
Applications for the 2022 Greening our City grant have now closed.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: the Minister for Planning.
Assessment process
The department will assess applications as follows:
- Applications will be reviewed to determine their eligibility.
- Eligible applications will be assessed by an assessment panel against the criteria in the ‘Assessment criteria’ section of these guidelines. The panel will be convened following departmental guidelines. The assessment process will be observed by an independent probity adviser.
- The assessment panel will recommend projects for funding and the Minister for Planning will make final decisions regarding funding allocations.
- All applicants will be notified by email or letter of the assessment outcome.
Distribution of funding
The allocation of funding will prioritise suburbs with lower canopy. Each project will be assessed on its merits by the assessment panel. The outcomes of this assessment will be compared with projects in similar canopy ranges to determine the recommended funding allocation.
Support and contact
More information
For grant assistance, contact the Green and Sustainable Cities team via the Greening our City Grants mailbox at gocgrants@planning.nsw.gov.au.
For information about the Greening our City grant 2022 and previous grant rounds, visit the Urban greening website.
* Image credit - NSW Department of Planning and Environment / Salty Dingo.