Reefwise Wetlands Grant Program (Australia)

The grant opportunity and process will be administered by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (the department/DISR) on behalf of Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

Objectives

• The objectives of the program are to:
  • implement on ground activities to rehabilitate, restore, and/or modify wetland and riparian systems at large-scales, targeting poor water quality in Reef catchments, to maximise water quality improvements.
  • apply a whole of system, values-based approach to projects that will recognise, measure and optimise the co-benefits associated with the rehabilitation, restoration, and/or modification of wetland and riparian systems as part of a treatment train approach within catchments of the Reef.

Funding Information

• Grant funding from $5 million to $19.75 million.
• The grant amount will be up to 100% of eligible expenditure (excluding any co-investment cash contributions or in-kind contributions).

Project Period

• You must complete your project by 31 March 2030.

Eligible Expenditure

• You can use this grant funding for:
  • labour and on-costs for personnel directly employed in delivering the project activities (this should be calculated on a pro-rata basis relative to their time commitment). This excludes project management or project co-ordination costs which are covered under administrative support below
  • contractor costs for the delivery of eligible project activities. All contractors must have a written contract prior to starting any project work. Invoices from contractors must contain a detailed description and breakdown of the work including hours and hourly rates
  • costs associated with administrative support activities up to a maximum of 10 per cent of total eligible expenditure incurred through the delivery of eligible project activities
  • costs associated with purchase of materials, and lease or hire of equipment where needed to undertake eligible activities
  • costs associated with monitoring, research and reporting activities
  • domestic travel and accommodation that directly supports the achievement of project outcomes and is required to conduct agreed project activities is limited to 5 per cent of total eligible project expenditure
  • staff training that directly supports the achievement of project outcomes
  • sharing of information and key learnings via various promotional activities that contribute to the knowledge base for wetlands’ role in water quality improvement up to a maximum of 1 per cent of total eligible project expenditure
  • the cost of an independent audit of project expenditure up to a maximum of 1 per cent of total eligible project expenditure.

Outcomes

• The intended outcomes of the program are:
  • improved ecosystem function of Reef coastal wetland and riparian systems, accelerating
  • progress towards meeting water quality targets, while aligning with the objectives of the Reef 2050 Plan, the Reef 2050 Wetlands Strategy and the Water Quality Improvement Plan  increased participation and partnerships with community and First Nations peoples in Great
  • Barrier Reef catchments tangible and reportable benefits and improvements for the Reef environment and catchment,
  • leading to an increase in habitat condition and biodiversity outcomes in Great Barrier Reef catchments contribution to Reef Trust Outcomes:
    • Reef Trust Outcome 1 – Improve the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef from broad-scale land use to increase the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef.
    • Reef Trust Outcome 2 – Improve the health and resilience of coastal habitats.
    • Reef Trust Outcome 3 – Improve and protect marine biodiversity.
  • that wetland and riparian systems rehabilitated under the program are being maintained, leveraging input from innovative funding models including emerging domestic and international environmental markets where applicable.

Eligible Activities

• Eligible activities can include but are not limited to:
  • projects and/or the coordination of multiple projects that rehabilitate, restore or modify multiple different connected Reef coastal wetland and riparian ecosystems, to maximise and/or return ecosystem system services, with a particular focus on water quality
  • wetland and riparian rehabilitation projects designed to deliver tangible and reportable improvement for wetland and riparian ecosystems in Great Barrier Reef catchments
  • activities that utilise coastal wetland and riparian systems as part of a treatment train, to prevent, process and/or capture priority pollutants including dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), fine sediment and pesticides in strategic locations across Great Barrier Reef catchments
  • activities that build on small scale pilot projects that have previously successfully trialled site -specific rehabilitation, restoration or modification methods.
• Eligible projects may be an extension of, or build on, an existing project, however you must clearly demonstrate the project is additional to any existing projects or grant activities.

Eligible Locations

• Your project can include activities at different locations, as long as they are all in the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park, the Great Barrier Reef Natural Resource Management regions or habitats/ecosystems within the Great Barrier Reef Catchments that have a clear and direct effect on the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park and wider Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
• The latest Reef Water Quality Report Card or alternative credible sources, including information on the DCCEEW website, should be used to prioritise catchments/basins that will provide maximum progress towards meeting water quality targets.
• For the purpose of this program, Great Barrier Reef wetland ecosystems that are eligible for rehabilitation, restoration and/or modification activities are ecosystems defined as a wetland using the definition stated in the Glossary, or reinstatement of wetlands in areas that were previous wetlands. Evidence of past wetland existence will be required to satisfy technical advisors at the criteria assessment stage.

Eligibility Criteria

• You can apply if you:
  • have an Australian business number (ABN)
• and are one of the following entities:
  • an entity, incorporated in Australia
  • an Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)
  • an incorporated association
  • an incorporated not for profit organisation
  • a publicly funded research organisation (PFRO)
  • an Australian local government agency or body
  • an Australian state/territory government agency or body
  • a Corporate Commonwealth entity (CCE).

Ineligibility Criteria

• You can’t apply if you are:
  • an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s list of Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme
  • an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
  • an individual
  • a partnership
  • an unincorporated association
  • a trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust).
  • a non-corporate Commonwealth entity (NCE).

For more information, visit business.gov.au.