Upper Hunter River Red Gum Enhancement

Upper Hunter River Red Gum Enhancement

Small Grants Program

Guidelines for Applicants

Program Information
Funding available / Total funding available is $90,000
·  $90,000 - Sibelco Australia
Access to further funding may be available through a Hunter region-wide Landscape Connectivity and Biodiversity Program for eligible projects
·$146,475 – Australian Government
Individual small grants are available up to a maximum of $15,000
Applications open / 1 August 2016
Closing date for applications / 16 September 2016
Final date for completion of approved projects / 31 May 2018
Eligibility / Landowners and land managers with River Red Gum vegetation on their property in the Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook and Singleton LGAs.
Eligible activities / Management of grazing through installation of livestock exclusion fencing to improve:
·  natural regeneration of native vegetation,
·  ground cover,
·  revegetation
Installation of off-stream watering systems
Installation of soil erosion works to improve or enhance condition of River Red Gum vegetation.
Revegetation with local provenance native plants to restore, improve connectivity and/or condition of River Red Gum vegetation. Preference given to utilising local seed collected from trees located at same site
Works to improve the hydrology to enhance an existing remnant of River Red Gum vegetation.
Essential weed management associated with any of the activities listed above.
Minimum outputs to be delivered by the Program / 6 on-ground projects
Priority Areas / Applications are invited from all landholders in the Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook and Singleton LGAs for projects aimed at enhancing the condition and connectivity of the Hunter River Red Gum Endangered Population.
Priority will be given to those River Red Gum sites identified in the report titled Assessment of Current Status and Recommendations for Management Strategies and Recovery Actions for the Endangered Population of River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) in the Hunter Catchment.(Umwelt 2007)
Lodging applications / Electronically:
Written: Upper Hunter River Red Gum Enhancement Program, Hunter Local Land Services, PO Box 250, Scone NSW 2337
Conditions of Funding / Standard LLS Grant funding terms and conditions apply. (Page 3)
LLS minimum standards for on-ground works may also apply (Pages 4 & 5)
How will projects be assessed? / Applications will then be assessed by a panel against the following criteria:
·  Use of best practice NRM
·  The proposed duration and commitment to the project (including maintenance and monitoring) by the proponent
·  Applicant’s capacity to complete projects in the specified timeframes.
·  Applicant in-kind and cash contribution
·  Level of public and private benefit, and
value for money
·  A risk assessment of the likelihood of a successful project outcome
·  Aboriginal cultural heritage outcomes
Where to get assistance? / Project Manager: Fiona Marshall
Phone: 02 65402417
Email: or
Website: www.hunter.lls.nsw.gov.au
Office: Hunter Local Land Services , Scone TAFE, 2 Flemington Drive, Scone NSW 2337
Note: Requests for assistance from Hunter LLS staff must be received by 2 September 2016 to guarantee assistance with your project application.

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Hunter Local Land Services

Conditions of funding

Contracts

All Hunter LLS Grants will be delivered through an Agreement. A copy of the standard agreement letter is available to all applicants to review prior to submitting the application. Please contact the LLS office to access a copy of the standard agreement template.

The Agreement letter will need to be signed by the applicant and the land owner (If different). The landholder on the application should match the landholder that will sign the contract and this should also match landholder that will receive the Grant funds.

How will you be paid?

A payment schedule will be determined as part of funding agreement negotiations. Funds will generally be paid 40% on completion of the first milestone which will generally be the submission of a WHS management plan and baseline photo’s. The remainder of funds will paid on completion of agreed milestones with 10% being withheld for the submission and approval of the final report.

All Grant payments from the LLS will be made during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 financial years provided milestones are achieved. Milestone payments may require a site inspection by the LLS to verify completion of the milestone. A final report on the project outcomes will be required to receive the final payment.

Payment will be made on receipt of a signed ATO compliant tax invoice on completion of agreement milestones. GST registered Grantees will be paid 10% GST on top of the approved Grant amount. Applicants should discuss the implications of receiving funding from the LLS with a financial adviser prior to applying.

Monitoring and Reporting

All on-ground projects funded by the LLS will be required to provide before and after photos and in some cases regular Photo-point monitoring. The LLS has a guideline for photo monitoring available on the website.

The LLS may also require monitoring of groundcover using the step point monitoring method or native vegetation condition monitoring depending on the type of activities proposed.

Given that funding aims to deliver economic, social and environmental outcomes, LLS will develop with successful grant funding applicants a set of relevant production, profitability and sustainability measures for monitoring and reporting on project outcomes.

All projects funded by the LLS may be included in more detailed vegetation and/or soil condition monitoring undertaken by the LLS.

A final report on the project outcomes will be required to receive a final payment.

Further details of monitoring requirements and templates for reports are available from an LLS contact officer and will be made available to successful applicants.

Maintenance

All funded activities will require maintenance to ensure the outcomes are maintained. On-ground projects will generally be required to be maintained for 5 years, but exceptions may apply for community groups.

Public Liability Insurance

All funded projects must be prepared to maintain current Public Liability Insurance ($20 million) for the duration of the agreement. A copy of your certificate of currency should be provided with your project application. If you are unable to provide the $20m of coverage you may apply to the LLS for a reduced amount, but this would be subject to an assessment of the Public Liability risk of the project.

Disclosure of Information

The LLS has requirements with the Australian and NSW Government to provide spatial information and details of funded works. The LLS will be required report spatially and on activities to these funding bodies, which may in turn be published on public websites. The LLS aims to provide information to the public spatially on achievements associated with public funds. Your project may be represented spatially e.g. point or polygon on catchment scale map in publicly released documents but no detailed information will be released.

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage

The LLS recommends that Aboriginal consultation be undertaken during the planning stage of all projects.

The LLS has Aboriginal staff that can assist you in contacting the appropriate person(s) or organisation.

Workplace Health and Safety

The first milestone payment will be linked to the completion of a WHS risk assessment and in some cases the completion of a Work Health and Safety Management Plan. The WHS Management Plan should document a Work Health and Safety risk assessment in accordance with Work Health and Safety Act 2011 requirements. LLS staff can assist in preparing a risk assessment and Work Health and Safety Management Plan for projects.

Conflicts of Interest

The Local Land Services has a Conflict of Interest Policy. Applicants should declare any perceived, actual or potential conflict of interest on their application. This could include being a current or past LLS staff member or being related to a staff member. Noting a Conflict of Interest will not automatically exclude applications for funding, but it does mean the LLS will need to follow certain procedures to ensure the conflict of interest is dealt with appropriately.

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Hunter Local Land Services

Minimum standards for on-ground works

General

It is a requirement that proponents maintain the condition of the project site to at least pre-project level in addition to any management activities proposed. For example, weed and pest animal control should be maintained to at least the pre-project level and/or that required by relevant legislation regardless of whether it is a proposed management action or not.

Fencing

All fencing (electric or standard) must be managed in a stock-proof condition for the term of the agreement. In addition the following standards apply:

Stock proof fencing to stabilise natural waterways:

·  Fence to be permanent and located a minimum distance back from the top of the high bank of 5m + the full height of the high bank from the streambed + an allowance for the rate of erosion versus stabilisation.

Stock proof fencing to manage nutrient runoff or to restore in-stream habitat:

·  Fence to be permanent and located a minimum distance back from the top of the high bank of 5m.

Stock proof fencing to protect or regenerate native riparian vegetation:

·  Fence to be permanent and should be located a minimum distance back from the top of the high bank of 20m for riparian vegetation.

Stock proof fencing to protect or regenerate remnant native vegetation:

·  Fence is to be permanent. Fencing around single trees will generally not be funded.

Revegetation

All revegetation activities funded by the LLS must achieve and maintain at least an 80% survival and establishment rate and stock exclusion fencing must be installed where stock could potentially access the site. Local provenance seed/planting stock must be used on revegetation sites. Importantly, all areas revegetated through funding will be defined as ‘protected regrowth’ under the Native Vegetation Act 2003 and therefore cannot be cleared in the future. In addition, the following standards apply to specific revegetation activities:

·  Revegetation of gullies, rivers and creeks: Any plantings along riparian lands must use local native species. Riparian revegetation projects should aim, if possible, to cover both sides of the flow line.

·  Revegetation for biodiversity and conservation purposes: A mix of local native species suitable for the site must be used. Wildlife corridors must link (be within 20m) of existing areas of remnant vegetation or established revegetation sites and must be at least 25 m wide or have an average width of at least 30m.

Structural works

This may include earthworks or construction activities for:

·  gully filling/shaping,

·  construction of diversion banks,

·  construction of gully control structures/ dams,

·  construction of concrete or rock flumes,

·  rock revetment, groynes and bed control structures,

·  in-stream works for enhancing aquatic habitat and/or controlling bed or bank erosion.

All structural works must be constructed to LLS standards and meet all regulatory requirements.

Soil Testing

Where soil testing is required, it must be carried out by a NATA accredited laboratory.

Provision of alternate stock water supplies

Alternate stock watering for protecting or regenerating native riparian vegetation or managing nutrient runoff may be required where stream bank vegetation is fenced. This may be achieved by installing additional stock water troughs, pipelines, tanks and pumps for a reticulated supply. The installation of additional stock water supply should be limited to providing water to areas that were previously supplied by the riparian area that has been fenced. All stock water works including provision of alternate stock water supply for sustainable grazing and implementing property plans must be technically sound and comply with the Native Vegetation Act, 2003.

Weed Control

Weed control for treating weeds or regenerating or protecting native vegetation will need to demonstrate that weed control is integral to achieving good biodiversity outcomes and/or addressing broader environmental issues. While noxious weed control may be required on a given site by legislation, funding for the control of noxious weeds is permitted where weed control is not the primary activity.

Weed control activities must achieve at least an 80% reduction in cover of the targeted weed species and this should be maintained for the term of the agreement. Directions on appropriate herbicide use must be adhered to and relevant permits must be acquired if undertaking weed control near waterways or water bodies. Permits may also be required from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to control weeds in Endangered Ecological Communities (EECs).

Grazing Management

Grazing must be excluded unless it is compatible with the proposed NRM actions and intended outcomes. Technical advice should be sought from LLS staff or other suitably qualified persons.

Project activities and outcomes determine if projects involve sustainable grazing or strategic grazing.

Sustainable grazing:

Grazing management practices that increase pasture and stock productivity without high inputs, improve farm profitability, increase rainfall capture and enhance both on and off-farm resources. This requires a good understanding of pasture growth processes, managing stock feed demand against herbage mass availability, managing for land capability, maintaining high levels of groundcover and pasture litter and increasing pasture perenniality and species diversity.

All activities for sustainable grazing incentives must be carried out and monitored with a sustainable grazing plan.

Strategic Grazing:

Grazing management practices used as a land management tool for outcomes such as bushfire fuel load reduction, weed control or increasing native plant diversity. It involves short grazes at limited strategic times and to an extent compatible with achieving NRM rather than production outcomes. It predominantly entails stock exclusion.

Grazing must be excluded for projects that deliver native vegetation, riverine or biodiversity outcomes, unless it is compatible with a given vegetation community that is present (e.g. grassy woodland), its current condition, proposed future condition and proposed management actions. Where strategic grazing is appropriate, it should follow a minimum period of stock exclusion of 3 years to initiate and promote natural regeneration and to ensure any necessary revegetation plantings (groundcover, shrubs and or trees) are established. Strategic grazing thereafter should be limited to a maximum of 8 weeks in any one year, a maximum of 2 weeks grazing within any one grazing period and with grazing periods a minimum of 8 weeks apart.

A minimum of 70% groundcover must be maintained, with stock excluded during declared droughts and immediately following heavy rainfall. Step point and photo point monitoring of groundcover at 6 monthly intervals must be undertaken.