Biodiversity Bushfire Recovery Grants

This program aims to support bushfire recovery activities for communities affected by fire in the North East, East Gippsland and Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Areas.

The objectives of the program are to:
- Fund projects that support community and biodiversity recovery after the 2019-20 bushfires through delivery of grants for activities including:
a) Biodiversity on-ground works.
b) Community capacity building activities including community education and engagement.
- Support the recovery from the 2019-20 bushfires of private land that has received previous Government biodiversity investment and/or has a Trust for Nature covenant.
- Support and strengthen the ability of environmental volunteer groups and networks including Friends' of groups, Landcare groups and networks to meet community needs and priorities in the bushfire affected areas in a time of crisis.

There are three streams of funding available:
- Stream 1: Up to $10,000 for private landholders.
- Stream 2: Up to $30,000 for environmental volunteer groups.
- Stream 3: Up to $50,000 for environmental volunteer networks.

Matching funding will not be required.

A total funding pool of $900,000 is available.

Eligible applicants include:
- Private landholders who have received previous Government investment in biodiversity conservation activities on their land and/or have a Trust for Nature covenant on the site.
- Environmental volunteer groups including Landcare and Friends groups that undertake on ground biodiversity conservation works.
 
Groups and network applicants must:
- Be an incorporated association registered through Consumer Affairs Victoria, or be incorporated through an incorporated association (e.g. Landcare Victoria Incorporated).
- Hold insurance sufficient to safeguard volunteers and participants involved in the funded activities, including public liability insurance of at least $10 million and personal accident insurance.

Groups and networks that do not meet the above requirements can still apply for funding but must operate under the auspices of a sponsor organisation that meets these requirements.

Private landholders will not need an auspice. Private landholders will be required to provide their address (home and property address), phone number and email address (if any) as well as a tax file number or a tax exemption.

Traditional Owner groups are also eligible to apply.

Eligible projects must meet the following requirements:
- Be delivered within 2019-20 bushfire affected areas in the North East, East Gippsland and Glenelg Hopkins CMA regions.
- Deliver activities to protect or improve biodiversity and natural environment assets such as native vegetation, native fauna, waterways, wetlands and soils including:
a) Biodiversity on-ground works such as weed control, pest and animal control (rabbits and foxes only; includes ripping rabbit burrows, harbour removal, baiting and fumigation only), fencing remnant vegetation habitat protection, waterway protection (using fire-proof fencing), revegetation, direct or hand seeding, artificial habitat (e.g. nest box installation), waterway bank and soil stabilisation and cultural heritage assessments. Conditions apply to some works.
b) Community capacity building such as education and engagement activities such as property planning courses, field days, education events, development of property biodiversity recovery plans, demonstration sites, knowledge-gathering (e.g. surveys).
- Any data collected on species must be submitted to the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas.

The main assessment criteria include:
- Land and environment outcome
- Community engagement and capacity building
- Demonstrated need and community and public benefit
- Project design and group/network capacity
- Value for money

For private landowners, eligible grant applications will be assessed and prioritised by the CMA using the following criteria:
- Land and environment outcome (20%)
- Previous investment (40%)
- Value for money (20%)

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list of the assessment criteria.

The following are ineligible for funding:
- Amenity and beautification projects.
- Shooting, trapping, tranquilisers or explosive methods for pest animal control. This includes engaging a contractor to undertake these activities.
- Boundary fencing.
- Property subdivision fencing without a biodiversity benefit.
- Barbed wire fencing.
- Non-indigenous vegetation planting.
- Vegetation corridors less than 10 metres wide. Minimum project width of 10 metres is required (minimum 10 metres from the top of the bank in riparian areas).

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list of ineligible items.