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[2]. 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.

[2] ‘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 (See Appendix A for a 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 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 milestone reports.
• In most cases, projects are to be completed by 30 June 2026 and fully acquitted by 30 July 2026. 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. The maximum amount of $50,000 is for the total cost of the project.
• 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). A LC Landscape Board staff member can help decide if a project is a Water Affecting Activity. If a permit is required, this will be identified in the Grant Agreement along with any appropriate conditions and the LC Landscape 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 LC Landscape 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. Contact a staff member listed in the ‘Chat With Us’ tab on the project page 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 LC Landscape Board’s priorities.

[3] 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 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 in 'Chat With Us' tab on the project page) prior to completing an application. This will assist to address the priorities of both the applicant and the LC Landscape 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 'Chat With Us'.

The closing time and date for applications will be 5pm on Monday 14 April 2024. 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 2025 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 2026, 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 on the project page. Find details of previous successful projects, answers to Frequently Asked Questions, and subject matter experts who can provide advice.