The Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (the Act) states that regional landscape boards must establish and maintain a Grassroots Grants Program for its region to support individuals, volunteers, community organisations and other bodies working at the local level on a not-for-profit basis[1]. The Act commits regional landscape boards to make grants available to undertake natural resources management activities that help to achieve benefits at the local level.

[1] ‘For-profit’ organisations can apply for funding as long as the project is not-for-profit.

The following eligibility criteria will need to be met. The applicant will need to:

• be an individual, volunteer, community organisation or other body working at the local level
• be undertaking natural resources management activities that help to achieve environmental and sustainable agricultural benefits at the local level
• be a legal entity or be sponsored by a legal entity
• where required, attach a Sponsor Support letter from a sponsor to the application, agreeing to be financially and legally responsible for this project
• have the agreement of any partner/s and provide a letter of support with the application form
• ensure that proposed project activities are not a component of any other funding agreement
• ensure that written approval for any works undertaken on land owned by another person/entity, other than the applicant, is attached to the application
• ensure a quote and/or justification of budget costs is attached to the application
• be undertaking project activities within the Limestone Coast Landscape region (map of the region)

Eligible projects will contribute to one or more of the priorities of the Limestone Coast (LC) Landscape Board. These five priorities form the backbone of the LC Landscape Board’s Regional Landscape Plan, a five year strategic plan for 2021-2026. Success in these priorities has been broadly described as follows below and future LC Coast Landscape Board projects will be designed to contribute to this success.

• Educating and partnering to sustainably manage our landscapes
  • Awareness and uptake of sustainable land management practices has increased, and more people feel a sense of connectedness to the landscape. We are innovative, supportive and provide inspiration to landowners, managers and community to contribute to positive biodiversity outcomes across all priorities.
• Protecting and balancing our region’s water resources
  • Water resources are managed for all purposes. First Nations, primary production and other industries, and the community recognise and understand this balance.
• Growing sustainable primary production
  • The region’s primary producers have integrated biodiversity and water sustainability practices, soil quality has improved and uptake of pest plant and animal management strategies has increased. Our action and leadership is visible to the community and is in alignment with and supporting industry and First Nations’ land management goals.
• Conserving and enhancing our region’s biodiversity
  • Biodiversity has been maintained across the landscape and capacity increased for environmental stewardship through partnering with First Nations, primary production and other industries, and the community. We have integrated best available local and cultural knowledge, science, and best practices to facilitate action that contributes to positive on ground outcomes.
• Working collaboratively to manage pest plants and animals
  • Pest plants and animals are being collectively managed by First Nations, primary production and other industries, and community. Our working relationship with the Limestone Coast community has ensured successful collaboration to achieve jointly identified, positive outcomes.

Funding will be offered on the following basis:

• Payment will be made upon signing of grant agreement and receipt of an invoice, prior to the project commencing, unless otherwise deemed suitable to pay on progress reports. Larger projects may be required to complete progress reports, prior to release of full funding. Multiple year projects will be paid on approval of progress reports.
• In most cases, projects are to be completed by 30 June 2024 and fully acquitted by 30 July 2024. However if a project is likely to benefit from an additional three months for seasonally dependent works such as planting, applicants may apply for up to 15 months to complete the project. Approval of extension will be determined by project type and benefit to outcomes.
• Complex multi-year projects may be considered for funding if the assessment panel believes the project requires guaranteed funding for subsequent years to be successful, and the benefits are consequently increased. Justification of multi-year projects must be included in the application and activities broken down into financial years in the budget table. A multi-year project will require completion of agreed milestones and approval of progress reports for subsequent payments.
• Timeframes and milestone reporting will be negotiated in grant agreements.
• Funding for a project manager may be considered for more complex projects. This needs to be itemised in the budget.
• Projects that may be subject to requirements under the Water Affecting Activity (WAA) Control Policy will need to be assessed before works commence. Applications must identify if any of the works within the project requires a WAA permit and an assessment (more information here). If a permit is required, this will be identified in the Grant Agreement along with any appropriate conditions and the board will apply a permit exemption as part of the grant approval.
• Successful projects with an on ground works component may be subject to a cultural heritage assessment under the terms of the Aboriginal Heritage Act (1988). The LC Landscape Board will facilitate this process.
• Successful projects will be expected to acknowledge the LC Landscape Board in their promotions and publications, and are encouraged to send the board news articles both from the original and extended/shared news source. Logos and branding information will be supplied upon request.
• Funding will not be provided for activities that have already commenced.

Only expenditure incurred by the funding recipient, directly attributable to the approved project, will be considered eligible expenditure.

Eligible expenditure cannot be incurred before the grant agreement has been signed by both parties.

Eligible expenditure must be incurred on or before the project completion date, or any approved variations.

Funding is provided strictly to support the project and its core activities as per the grant application and any approved variations.

For the purpose of assessing a project proposal, ineligible activities and items include but are not limited to:

• budget allocated to pay the board’s Weed Control Service to do spraying or other control works. N.B. A private contractor can be engaged for this work, or the LC Landscape Board may be able to assist[1]. Contact a staff member in Section 8 for more information.
• establishment of new production sites or facilities
• activities causing or with the potential to cause environmental damage, either directly or indirectly
• preparation of the original grant application, variations or reporting
• routine administration expenses including but not limited to accommodation, office computing facilities, legal and accounting fees and bank charges
• purchase of assets which could be used for personal benefit

This list is not exhaustive. Other activities or specific expenditure may be ineligible where the LC Landscape Board determines that they do not directly support the achievement of the planned outcomes of the project or that they are contrary to the spirit and intention of the funding and the board’s priorities.

[1] N.B. Collaborating with the LC Landscape Board’s Landscape Operations team on a pest control activity cannot be included as ‘in-kind’ support in your project application.

Project proposals will be assessed against how well they address the following:

• How does this project meet one or more of the board’s investment priorities?
• How does the project deliver good value for money? (Cost, in-kind and co-contributions, volunteer contribution, outcomes etc.)
• How does the project include community engagement or capacity building?
• How does the project benefit the community?
• The project has clear and achievable monitoring and evaluation procedures
• If relevant, the project application provides information on how it will be supported after grant funding has expired
• Appropriate and sufficient supporting documentation is attached to the application
• The project address one or more of the following:
  
  • Increased capacity of people to manage natural resources through the provision of education opportunities and support mechanisms
  • Facilitates the sustainable use of natural resources within the region
  • Enhances the productivity of sustainably-managed farm businesses through natural resource management
  • Enhanced biological diversity through the protection of areas of remnant native vegetation and supports the restoration of systems and processes that have been degraded or lost
  • Prevention or reduction of the impacts of pest plant and animal species that may have an adverse effect on the environment, production systems and the community
  • Consideration of the Aboriginal heritage, interests of traditional owners, other heritage issues and the interest of the community in relation to natural resources
  • Promotion of the connection to, and responsibilities of, Aboriginal people to country, and increases community understanding of the cultural values of water, land and biodiversity
  • Integrated long-term and short-term economic, environmental and social considerations into resource use planning and decision making processes
  • Promotion of an understanding of the interrelationship between managing soil, water, biodiversity assets and primary production
  • Provision of opportunities for production systems to adapt to climate change
  • Use of innovative strategies to address identified gaps in knowledge, skills and technical understanding
  • Contribution to the development of partnerships between the board and industry groups and commercial entities
  • Contribution to positive practice change using well understood existing practices or through innovation and new ideas
  • Development of strategies or tools addressing emerging issues, or previously unidentified limitations to implementing sustainable land management practices demonstrating value for money

N.B. Projects with clearly demonstrated community benefit, capacity building and community engagement elements will be assessed more favourably.

Stage 1

It is strongly recommended that applicants discuss their project ideas with a Limestone Coast Landscape Board team member (listed below in Section 8) prior to completing an application. This will assist to address the priorities of both the applicant and the board, clarify any questions of project or applicant eligibility, and identify opportunities for establishing a successful partnership.

Stage 2

Applications must be submitted via the online platform SmartyGrants. All grants will be managed through this system. Support to use the online system is available by emailing LandscapeSA.LCLandscapeBoardGrants@sa.gov.au or by calling 8429 7550 during business hours. If your query is in relation to your grant content, please refer to the list in section 8.

The closing time and date for applications will be 5pm on Monday 1 May 2023. There will be no extensions and late applications will not be accepted.

Stage 3

Projects will be assessed against the criteria in section 6 above by an assessment panel including Limestone Coast Landscape Board staff and board representation. A site assessment may also be conducted as part of the assessment process. A staff member would be in contact to organise such an assessment if required.

Recommended successful applications will be submitted to the board for approval.

Stage 4

Applicants will be notified by the end of June 2023 of a successful application by the receipt of a letter and Grant Agreement. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by letter. If the grant is successful, a grant agreement must be signed by both parties before any work is commenced. Grant funding will be provided upon receipt of a compliant Tax Invoice. Some projects may be funded in stages. These details will be included in the grant agreement.

Stage 5

Project implementation will commence, and proceed against the agreed deliverables and any conditions outlined in the grant agreement.

Grantees will be encouraged to invite Limestone Coast Landscape Board members and staff to their activities to build relationships and document Grassroots Grants projects for promotion and engagement with the wider community.

Stage 6

The project will be completed by 30 June 2024, unless otherwise negotiated and reporting will be undertaken in SmartyGrants, in accordance with the grant agreement or any approved variations. Multi-year projects will be subject to a project delivery schedule relevant to their project, outlined in the grant agreement.

Further information in relation to developing project ideas and applications can be found in the 'FAQS' tab or check out the 'Chat with us' tab to find a staff member to discuss your project idea with. This will ensure that project outcomes are aligned with the Limestone Coast Landscape Board’s priorities for investment.

Eligibility includes but is not limited to:

• volunteer groups
• non-government organisations
• schools
• progress associations
• peak organisations
• local government related community groups
• outdoor and recreational groups

• Individuals (also known as natural persons)
• Partnership (made up of two or more individuals)
• Corporations/companies under the Corporations Act 2001 – have a unique ACN and are represented by “Pty”, “Pty Ltd” or “Ltd” following the company name
• Associations – incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1985 (have “Inc.” after their name)
• Trustees in a trust (e.g. John Smith as Trustee for the Smith Family Trust)
• Local Government – under Local Government Act 1999
• Most Australian Universities

Not for profit, local projects with an environmental or sustainable agriculture benefit, in the Limestone Coast. For example:

• revegetation work
• water efficiency initiatives
• monitoring and biological assessment
• pest control
• trialling sustainable farming practice
• education activities and raising community awareness and participation in natural resource management activities

Revegetation and fencing projects on private land are eligible. However, where a project delivers benefit primarily for the landholder the project is unlikely to score highly. Where the community will benefit from the activity through education or capacity-building, utilise volunteers, partner with other organisations, show good value for money or innovation and so on in might be more highly considered (section 6 in the Guidelines for Applicants has more detail).

Examples include:

• engaging the board’s Weed Control Service to do control works[1]
• establishment of new production sites or facilities
• activities causing or with the potential to cause environmental damage, either directly or indirectly
• preparation of the original grant application, variations or reporting
• routine administration expenses including but not limited to accommodation, office computing facilities, legal and accounting fees and bank charges
• purchase of assets which could be used for personal benefit

For further guidance on the kinds of projects that were successful in previous rounds, check out the projects tab on our project page.

[1] However, you can apply for funding for a private contractor to carry out control works, or you can ask the board to support your pest control activities as part of their annual work plan by contacting one of the Team Leaders Landscape Operations in the list of contacts towards the end of this document. Please also note, collaborating with the board’s Landscape Operations team on a pest control activity cannot be included as ‘in-kind’ support in your project application.

Generally, funding is not provided for the purchase of assets. You are encouraged to borrow or hire equipment, however, purchase of equipment may be considered if it can be demonstrated that this is essential to the delivery of specified works.

You will need to check if your project is a Water Affecting Activity (view policy). If a permit is required, this will be identified in the Grant Agreement along with any appropriate conditions and the board will apply a permit exemption as part of the grant approval.

You can ask for your project to be fully funded however, it is preferable that volunteer hours or other in-kind support is detailed in the application.

Yes, as long as the projects are separate and distinct and you or your organisation has the capacity to deliver them.

As an individual you are eligible to apply. However, for your application to be considered for funding you will need to demonstrate community capacity building elements, community engagement and the benefit to the broader community. Alternatively you could apply for funding for a not-for-profit project in partnership with a community organisation.

Yes, as long as the project is not-for-profit and meets one or more of the criteria laid out in the Guidelines for Applicants.

If you are not a legal entity e.g. a group of neighbouring landholders banding together for pest management activities, you will need someone, a person or organisation, to be responsible for receiving and managing grant funding and completing reporting.

This could be the local council, or an individual. A sponsor’s letter is required as part of your application if you are using a sponsor. There is a space in the application form for applicants to add a letter confirming sponsorship from their sponsoring organisation.

Another common example is an unincorporated Friends of Parks group, who would use Friends of Parks Inc. as their sponsor.

No, the online application portal will close at 5pm on Monday 1 May 2023.

It is anticipated that the assessment and approvals process will take approximately six to eight weeks. All applicants will be advised whether or not their proposed project(s) were successful. Grant Agreements will then be sent to successful proponents.

Most grants will be paid 100% upfront. In some circumstances (a very big grant, or a risky project), we might negotiate a payment split e.g. 80% upfront, 20% on completion. Multi-year projects will receive subsequent years’ funding payments upon approval of milestone reports.

Maybe. In circumstances beyond your control e.g. a COVID-19 surge making it impossible to hold your public event or seasonal conditions affecting your planned activities, you can apply to extend your project by up to 12 months.

Support to use the online system (fix log-ins, recover passwords etc.) is available by emailing LandscapeSA.LCLandscapeBoardGrants@sa.gov.au or by calling the office on 8429 7550.

If your query is in relation to your grant content, please refer to the 'Chat with us' tab.