The NSW Government, with the financial support provided by the Australian Government, will offer technical and financial support through this program to the eligible local government areas to manage flood risk.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Assistance under the program is $3 from the government for every $1 provided by the applicant (from council revenue), except where a council is eligible for enhanced funding.
- Application opened: 15 February 2024
- Application closed: 13 March 2024, 5:00 pm
Program objective
NSW Flood Recovery and Resilience Grant Program supports the implementation of the NSW Flood Prone Land Policy.
It aims to reduce the impacts of existing flooding and flood liability on communities and reduce private and public losses resulting from floods, using ecologically positive methods wherever possible.
The NSW Government recommends that local government manage its flood risk by following the floodplain risk management process outlined in the Flood risk management manual (2023).
Assistance under the program comprises $3 from the government for every $1 provided by the applicant (from council revenue), except where a council is eligible for enhanced funding.
The program objectives are to:
- reduce flood risk and build long-term community resilience in areas that are at risk from floods
- reduce the impacts of flooding and flood liability on communities and reduce private and public losses resulting from floods
- reduce flood risk and losses through a range of property, flood and response modification measures as outlined in the Flood risk management manual.
Projects that cannot demonstrate that they meet the program’s objectives will be ineligible for funding.
This program is funded and administered by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Eligibility
Councils, county councils and other government bodies with equivalent floodplain risk management responsibilities to local councils (for example, Hunter Local Land Services) and are within the 62 local government areas listed as eligible to apply.
Who can apply
Applicants must be within the 62 local government areas listed here:
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Types of projects funded under this grant
Funding is available through this program for:
- investigation and design
- construction of new or upgraded flood mitigation infrastructure.
What can’t you apply for
Funding will not be provided for:
- voluntary purchase schemes
- flood warning systems
- the purchase of land as part of mitigation works
- preparing a flood study or floodplain risk management study and plan
- GST – the project cost is to exclude GST
- retrospective projects – funding is not available for activities currently underway, completed or contractually committed to prior to the awarding of grants to successful applicants or prior to approval of the project work plan
- the financial co-contribution required for projects funded through other NSW or Commonwealth programs
- administration costs – unless otherwise approved in writing by the Manager Contestable Grants – Flood at coastalestuary.floodgrants@environment.nsw.gov.au. All internal costs (including on-costs) associated with the core activities of the applicant are ineligible for funding. An applicant’s core activities include preparing study briefs, reviewing proposals and tenders, researching and copying records, attending meetings, contract and grant administration, accounting costs, staff costs associated with liaising with the public and government agencies. However, costs related to educating residents via mailouts, workshops or other methods will be funded where those costs are deemed to be reasonable and well justified
- project management costs, with the exception of the outlined circumstances in 'What will be funded?'
- non-monetary contributions as matching funds – an applicant’s matching funds must be in the form of monetary contributions from council revenue and cannot include in-kind, voluntary contributions or funding from other parties
- contingencies should not be included in the application or workplan
- projects the applicant can reasonably be expected to undertake without financial assistance from the program, such as local drainage works
- maintenance of assets
- additional funding of more than 30% of the original amount awarded after commencing the project
- funding for VHR through this program to the following areas, they should apply under the Resilient Homes Program:
- Ballina
- Byron
- Clarence Valley
- Kyogle
- Lismore
- Richmond Valley
- Tweed.
Enhanced Funding
Applicants may apply for enhanced funding under the program.
When applying for enhanced funding, the application should demonstrate the:
- scale of impacts of early 2022 floods
- socioeconomics of the area
- councils’ financial capacity.
If enhanced funding is awarded, the applicant is eligible for an increased government contribution towards the project’s cost.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
All applicants must be able to demonstrate:
- the project meets the objectives of this NSW Flood Recovery and Resilience Grant Program
- capacity to deliver the project, past grants management history, available resources and financial commitment, proposed timeframe, and whether the project is realistic based on completion of prerequisite consultant briefs, preconstruction work or approvals
- commitment to maintain any works in a condition suitable to meet its design intent for the design life
- the project is consistent with the intent of the NSW Flood Prone Land Policy and the floodplain risk management process outlined in the Flood risk management manual (2023).
Guidelines for applicants
File
Flood Recovery and Resilience Grant Program Guidelines - 2023–24 (PDF 701.83KB)File
Floodplain Management Program Guidelines - 2023-24 (PDF 553.52KB)File
Floodplain Management Program - voluntary house raising schemes guidelines (PDF 811.19KB)
Address the eligibility criteria
All applicants must be able to demonstrate:
- the project meets the objectives of this NSW Flood Recovery and Resilience Grant Program
- capacity to deliver the project, past grants management history, available resources and financial commitment, proposed timeframe, and whether the project is realistic, based on completion of prerequisite consultant briefs, preconstruction work or approvals
- commitment to maintain any works in a condition suitable to meet its design intent for the design life
- the project is consistent with the intent of the NSW Flood Prone Land Policy and the floodplain risk management process outlined in the Flood risk management manual (2023).
- Projects must meet all 4 essential criteria to be eligible for funding
Other Criteria
Applications will also be assessed on:
- the extent to which the project is addressing one or more of the NSW Flood Recovery and Resilience Grant Program priorities
- the technical feasibility, effectiveness and efficiency of the risk mitigation solution, as examined through scoring of information on the project provided in the implementation project prioritisation form
- the priority of the project stage with regard to the relevant adopted floodplain risk management plan or another document that is comparable
- An application will be awarded a reduced ranking if it is not well thought out, does not provide enough information to clearly demonstrate the need for the project or has unclear objectives or outcomes
Mandatory information required in each application includes:
- an effective summary of what the project will deliver
- quantification of project specific flood mitigation benefits
- the number of properties at risk (in the application form, not in an attachment)
- cost benefit ratio
- a visual representation of the project location
- copies of reports/plans referred to in the application (including a summary of key text in the application for reference).
- the need to manage flood risk in the area and how effectively the application demonstrates addressing the risks
- cost effectiveness compared to similar projects and for the outcomes delivered.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Projects recommended for funding are provided for consideration and approval by the appropriate department delegate.
The applications will be assessed and both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified.
Applications will be checked to confirm eligibility and completeness.
Ineligible, late or incomplete applications will be considered ineligible for funding.
Eligible applications will then be assessed and prioritised by an independent panel, which includes expert and stakeholder representation.
Projects recommended for funding are provided for consideration and approval by the appropriate department delegate.
Details of successful applications will be placed on the department’s website. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application.
Support and contact
For general grant administration enquiries, contact the Grants Branch – Flood
Phone: (02) 9895 6494