CFAs: Conservation Outcomes for Watercourse Ecosystems (Australia)

Funding Information

• Applicants may seek funding for grants of between $50,000 and $200,000 (excluding GST).
• Projects must be completed within three years from execution of the grant agreement.

Eligible Projects and Activities

• Applicants will need to demonstrate that project activities are able to be defined and are measurable in achieving a conservation outcome (an outcome that maintains or improves the viability of an impacted matter) being delivered for a Watercourse Ecosystem through the funded activities over the term of the grant. Project design may include engagement of conservation expertise to establish and/or deliver the monitoring and measurement of the project’s conservation outcome.
• Projects funded will be those that undertake on-ground activities that achieve a conservation outcome for a Watercourse Ecosystem within eligible bioregions in Queensland.Activities funded may include but are not limited to:
  • Controlling stock access to watercourses or areas of environmental significance adjacent to a watercourse, and establishing off-stream watering points, as required.
  • Fencing to protect environmentally sensitive areas from stock, pest animals or unauthorised access (does not include boundary fencing for wild dog exclusion).
  • Revegetation and/or natural regeneration activities to enhance habitat values, stabilise soils and/or improve water quality. Engagement of conservation expertise including First Nations peoples to monitor and build management programs to appropriately conserve the natural resources of the area (including fire management, pest animal/pest plant control plans etc.) appropriate to Watercourse Ecosystem conservation.
  • Targeted control of pest animals or pest plants.
  • Fire management activities.
  • Flora and fauna surveys for the purposes of guiding long-term conservation management activities and/or for establishing environmental baselines to demonstrate environmental gains.
  • Other activities where a clear conservation outcome can be demonstrated.
• Activities should encourage community participation.

Ineligible Projects and Activities

• Projects and activities that will not be considered for funding under this round include:
  • projects that do not have a primary aim of achieving a conservation outcome for Watercourse Ecosystems
  • projects undertaken outside of Queensland
  • projects undertaken on National Parks and State Forests
  • specific activities at a particular location for which the landowner has previously received other Queensland or Australian Government funding for the same project. Note: funding applicants for multi-stage projects may be considered. For example, if stage 1 of a project has been completed, you may submit an application for stage 2 of the project.
  • projects that are the normal or legal responsibility of the landowner (e.g. day-to-day property maintenance, building maintenance, maintenance of infrastructure previously funded under another Queensland Government administered grant)
  • projects that are a condition of a development approval, rehabilitation order or an offset requirement under a government offset policy
  • projects that are already required under legislation (e.g. taking reasonable steps to keep the land free of declared pest plants) – however, funding may be considered where the activity clearly exceeds legislative requirements or can deliver high-level strategic or accelerated control outcomes (e.g. control of a new weed infestation after a flooding event that has the potential to invade areas further downstream)
  • projects that will increase overall grazing intensity or unsustainably expand grazing into sensitive areas, either inside or outside the property
  • projects that have the potential to negatively impact the proposed site’s natural or cultural values
  • projects that contravene legislation
  • projects that require licences or permits that are not obtainable
  • projects that are deemed to be landscaping for private or scenic amenity.

Eligibility Criteria

• Application eligibility
  • The following are eligible to apply for a grant in their own right:
    • properly established incorporated associations (incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981)
    • properly established not-for-profit organisations including those registered under the Corporations Act 2001 or the Co-operatives National Law Act (must include evidence attached of constitution for non-for-profit organisations)
    • Australian charities registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
    • Indigenous corporations incorporated under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cwlth)
    • Natural Resource Management (NRM) bodies.
• Project sponsor eligibility
  • The following entities are eligible to apply for a grant with a project sponsor:
    • unincorporated organisations
    • unregistered charities and not-for-profit organisations.
  • Project sponsors must be one of the following organisations:
    • an organisation eligible to apply for funding in its own right
    • a school (government and non-government school)
    • a local government authority.
  • Project sponsors must take full responsibility for the legal and financial accountability of the project, including signing the grant agreement and/or any declarations, and are required to approve all projectrelated reporting. They are required to provide evidence of insurance for the lifetime of the grant period.
  • A letter from the project sponsor, signed by an accountable officer, must be included with the application which specifies that the organisation is willing to be the sponsor for the duration of the project and that it accepts full responsibility of the project.
  • Project sponsors are not able to financially benefit from the grant funding, however, a sponsor may be engaged by the applicant for any administration component of the project as outlined under eligible expenses in these guidelines.
  • An organisation may sponsor more than one project as well as submitting an application in their own right.
  • The term sponsor is interchangeable with the term auspice.
• Collaborations
  • Two or more eligible organisations can work in collaboration on a single project. The applicant organisation is to take the lead on project management and monitoring, budget and reporting requirements for the duration of the funding agreement activities.
  • A letter of commitment will be required from the accountable officer of the collaborating organization which provides details of the organisation’s involvement in the project.
  • Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with relevant Traditional Custodians, community groups or stakeholders.

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following applicants are ineligible to apply for funding:
  • individuals
  • statutory bodies and authorities
  • Australian Government agencies
  • Queensland Government agencies
  • political parties or lobbyists
  • local government authorities (other than as a sponsor)
  • tertiary education institutions administered by the Commonwealth or State
  • schools (government and non-government schools) (other than as a sponsor).

For more information, visit Queensland Government.