Applications open for Biodiversity Incentive Scheme Grants – Australia

This grant is open to private landowners and volunteer public land managers who want to improve native vegetation in Casey.

Grant Streams

• Revegetation stream: indigenous plants provided to support your revegetation work for public or private land.
• Mainstream: resident (private land manager) or volunteers (public land managers) receive financial support for projects.

Funding Information

• Amount they provide: up to $2000.

What they can fund?

• Revegetation Stream
  • Plants for revegetation 
  • Council understands the widespread benefits of increasing canopy cover and native vegetation across Casey. To support this approach, 10,000 indigenous plants will be available, with a streamlined application and acquittal process.
  • Conditions
    • Plantings must happen in areas that have little to no native vegetation, or little biodiversity. Note: Enhancement (infill) planting for biodiversity will be considered under 7.4 Conservation Management Plan as part of the standard Biodiversity Incentive Scheme grant.
    • Plants will be provided for the current upcoming planting season
    • Council will coordinate the supply of plants.
    • All plants must be Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) specific and sourced from locally indigenous stock.
    • The applicant is responsible for site preparation, planting and ongoing maintenance.
    • All planting must be done following best practice.
• Mainstream
  • Fencing of indigenous vegetation 
    • Fencing is a valuable land management tool for protecting indigenous vegetation including both remnant and revegetated areas. This subsidy will be provided on a per metre basis and the total funding will depend on the fencing material required. This grant will cover both the cost of materials and installation.
    • Conditions
      • All material must be new.
      • The landowner must maintain the fence.
      • The landowner and Council will work together to determine the location of the fence. To be considered, applications for fencing must contain the purpose of the fence (ie: rabbit exclusion) and include a map of the proposed location/s and distance.
      • The fence must be stock proof.
      • Areas fenced to protect remnant vegetation and environmentally sensitive areas must remain stock-free.
  • Fencing rebates
    • A standard post and wire fence is based on one post every 5-10 metres. These can be substituted with barbed wire if desired. Landowners are responsible for extra costs from barbed wire fencing. Wire mesh for rabbit exclusion is included.
    • They do not restrict the length of a fence, but they do consider the size of the patch and quality of vegetation being protected when they shortlist applications.
  • Weed control
    • Funding is available to control noxious and environmental weeds on private property.
    • Conditions
      • All works must follow best practice and regulations.
      • Follow up weed control must be completed over the following 3 years.
      • Residents must be able to show they are already meeting their statutory requirements.
      • Council will fund up to half the cost of a suitably qualified contractor or the cost of chemicals if the landholder is carrying out the weed control.
      • Funding will not cover weed control equipment such as sprayers etc or personal protective equipment.
  • Conservation Management Plan Actions
    • Conservation Management Plans are plans that are prepared for your property by either yourself or a suitably qualified ecologist that map out the conservation works being proposed. These plans should cover your goals and actions and may include short- or long-term projects.
    • Funding will be considered for any action from a Council-approved Conservation Management Plan and in some cases the development of a Conservation Management Plan by a suitably qualified ecologist.
    • Actions that will be considered may include, but are not limited to; enhancement planting, purchase and installation of species-specific nesting boxes, eco thinning, biomass removal – as part of habitat improvement, installation of habitat features such as frog bogs and wetlands.
    • Conditions
      • Management or planting plans can be developed by the landholder and must clearly show goals and actions.
      • All works must be undertaken by a suitably qualified contractor or in-kind by the landholder.
      • Equipment and materials can be applied for to undertake the work.
      • All works must follow best practice.
      • Permit conditions or any actions linked to a permit condition will not be funded.
  • Pest animal control 
    • Landowners and Council fund the control of pest animals together. In some cases, neighbours on surrounding properties will also need to participate.
    • Examples of pest animals include:
      • the red fox
      • European rabbit
      • feral cats
    • Conditions
      • All works must follow best practice and regulations.
      • Where appropriate, a landscape approach should be initiated. Projects that involve many neighbouring landholders will be highly regarded.
      • Pest animal control works are to protect remnant vegetation and areas of high environmental significance.
      • All pest animal work must be delivered so that it does not cause off target damage to native wildlife e.g. protecting wallabies and possums from consuming bait set for rabbits. Steps that will be taken need to be provided prior to approval and evidence demonstrated in your acquittal.
      • Council will fund up to half the cost of a suitably qualified contractor.
      • Funding assistance is at the discretion of Council.

What they cannot fund?

• Council will not fund:
  • Applications linked to planning permit conditions.
  • Activities required as part of planning enforcement.
  • Boundary fencing.
  • Tools and machinery – unless it applies to actions in a Council approved Conservation Management Plan.
  • Personal protective equipment.
  • Conservation work not listed in this document – unless it applies to actions in a Council approved Conservation Management Plan.

Eligibility Criteria

• This grant is open to private landowners and volunteer public land managers who want to improve native vegetation in Casey.

Criteria

• They will give preference to applicants and applications that:
  • meet the required conditions
  • protect large patches of remnant vegetation
  • demonstrate a contribution to the biodiversity of the property and surrounding environment
  • are within proximity of significant species found on or adjacent to the property
  • are located near and form a connectivity with other areas of quality vegetation
  • are requesting revegetation, with preference to using indigenous native plants
  • provide a Conservation Management Plan and are well planned, including a maintenance program
  • have undertaken training
  • propose works that align with or support Council’s existing biodiversity improvement program
  • have considered and plan for works that avoid or minimise their impact on any existing native vegetation and are environmentally acceptable
  • demonstrate a level of in-kind contribution.

For more information, visit City of Casey.