Bob Tounce NSW DPI
Available to Local Control Authorities for weeds to help fund projects aimed at reducing the impact and risk of weeds in NSW.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $20,000 to $700,000
- Application opened: 19 March 2024
- Application closed: 12 April 2024, 4:00 pm
Program objective
The NSW Weeds Action Program aims to reduce the risk and impact of weeds through implementation of the NSW Invasive Species Plan 2023-2028 (PDF 1.7MB) and the NSW Biosecurity & Food Safety Strategy 2022-2030. (PDF 3.68MB) The Regional Sub-program 2023-2024 for Local Control Authorities for Weeds is a 1-year instalment of the 5-year NSW Weeds Action Program Guidelines 2020-2025. (PDF 703.17KB)
The objective of the program is to deliver funding to Local Control Authorities for weeds to:
- prevent the establishment of new high risk (state and regional priority) weeds
- eliminate or prevent the spread of state and regional priority weeds
- ensure NSW has the ability and commitment to manage state and regional priority weeds.
This program is funded and administered by Department of Primary Industries.
Eligibility
Who can apply
To be eligible for grant funding, you must be a Local Control Authority for weeds as defined under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and be a partner in the NSW Weeds Action Program 2020-2025 in some capacity from 1 July 2020.
Who can’t apply
Ineligible applicants include:
- an individual
- any business or organisation that does not meet the eligibility applicant criteria
- any organisation that submits more than 1 application per LLS region.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Eligible activities should include activities that meet the Weeds Action Program investment priorities, that align to the goals, outcomes, and strategies of the NSW Invasive Species Plan 2023-2028. A detailed breakdown of eligible goals, outcomes and strategies is provided in Appendix B of the program guidelines.
| Goal | Eligible Activities |
|---|---|
| Goal 1 (all Outcomes) | Activities that directly link to identification, inspection and management of high-risk species, sites, and pathways. |
| Goal 2 (all Outcomes) | Activities that directly link to rapid response and early detection capabilities to eradicate or contain new incursions of state and regional priority weeds. |
| Goal 3 (Outcome 3.2) | Activities that directly link to improved management effectiveness. |
| Goal 4 (Outcome 4.2 and 4.3) | Activities that directly link to landholder or general community engagement and participation in weeds biosecurity; and activities relating to the training and development of Biosecurity (Authorised) Officers. |
What can’t you apply for
The following activities are ineligible for funding under the program:
- activities that do not meet the eligible activities
- activities that have already received NSW Government or other funding for the same outputs and outcomes
- activities that are funding infrastructure costs or significant capital costs
- activities that are funding general reserves, bushland, parks and garden management costs.
Eligible project costs
Grant funding can be used for expenses directly related to the delivery of eligible activities. This includes costs associated with:
- the inspection and surveillance of high-risk pathways and sites
- the inspection, surveillance and control of state and high priority regional weeds
- responding to new weed incursions including control
- undertaking compliance activities for state and regional priority weeds
- training and development activities to improve the capacity of authorised officers
- all activities associated with capacity building such as workshops, field days, seminars, events
- activities associated with attending Regional Weed Committee and State Taskforce meetings
- fulfilling reporting requirements including uploading data to the Biosecurity Information System – weeds and Weeds Biosecurity Funding.
Eligible costs incurred for works undertaken from 1 July 2023 may be included in an application for grant funding under the program.
Ineligible project costs
The following activity costs are ineligible unless otherwise agreed by the Department of Primary Industries:
- administrative, operational and maintenance costs not related to the project
- costs already funded by insurance and/or other funding including NSW Government funding programs
- costs incurred in the preparation of a grant application or related documentation
- costs relating to depreciation of plant and equipment beyond the life of the project
- costs incurred that are of a personal or private benefit.
Eligible project locations
The program aligns with the Local Land Services regions in NSW.
Activities may be jointly funded across Local Land Services regions for the benefit of the involved regions and the state. Projects are to benefit the Local Land Services regions and should first focus on works and efforts within the applicant’s local government area.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
Your application must address and demonstrate the eligibility criteria and merit assessment criteria.
To see what your application needs to include download the:
Prepare your application with this checklist
Applications will need to include:
- applicant details including Australian Business Number (ABN)
- details relating to your project activities including strategic alignment, budgets, dates, and co-contribution
- evidence of a current $20 million Public Liability Insurance in the name of the applicant
- a letter from the relevant executive officer, with appropriate delegation, to support incurred costs and/or co-contribution (if applicable).
Address the eligibility criteria
To be eligible for grant funding, an applicant must meet each of the following eligibility criteria:
- be an approved Local Control Authority under the NSW Weeds Action Program 2020-2025
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be a LCA, which is one of the following legal entity statuses in NSW:
- the council of a local government area which is the LCA for land within that local government
area, or - a county council or a joint organisation (within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1993) where the weed control functions for that area have been conferred by councils of local government areas. That is, if the weed control functions for an area have been conferred on a county council or joint organisation, the county council or joint organisation is the LCA for that area, or
- Lord Howe Island Board
- the council of a local government area which is the LCA for land within that local government
- hold a current $20 million Public Liability Insurance policy in the applicant’s name
- that their organisation has one or more authorised officers (s 372 of the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and confirmed against NSW DPI Weed Information Database), or taking steps to engage and/or train an authorised officer (for example, recruiting officers in training or an independent contractor)
- have capacity for 2023-2024 activities to be completed by 30 June 2024
- have all appropriate licences and permits to undertake the proposed activities
- have existing weed activities loaded into the Biosecurity Information System – weeds, and
- are able to enter into a funding deed with LLS.
Address the assessment criteria
Your application must address all merit assessment criteria.
It will be assessed based on the weighting given to each criterion. The online application form contains questions that relate to the merit assessment criteria below.
| Criteria Categories | Evidence Requirements | Criteria Weighting |
|---|---|---|
Strategic alignment Demonstrates alignment | This can be demonstrated by:
| 50% |
Deliverability Provides sufficient | This can be demonstrated by:
| 10% |
Viability and Affordably Provides sufficient | This can be demonstrated by:
| 10% |
Value for money
| This can be demonstrated by:
| 30% |
Merit assessment prioritisation
Under the criteria of strategic alignment, the goals of the NSW Invasive Species Plan 2023-2028 will be a key consideration. This is based on return on investment and intent of the NSW Weeds Action Program Guidelines 2020-2025. Activities under Goal 1 is weighted highest. Activities under Goal 2 and Goal 4 weighted equally. Activities against Goal 3 are ranked the lowest.
Please note activities eligible under Goal 3 only include Outcome 3.2. Eligible activities under Goal 4 only include Outcomes 4.2 and 4.3. For further information on associated eligible activities refer to Appendix B.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Director General, Department of Primary Industries.
All eligible applications will be assessed by a panel convened by the Department of Primary Industries.
The assessment panel consists of representatives from the Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services. An independent probity advisor is present at assessment panel meetings.
Based on these assessments, a recommendation will then be made in writing to the decision maker.
The decision maker will provide the final funding approval of the event and funding amount.
Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified of the assessment outcome.