Applications now open for 2012-13 Community Action Grants 

The Australian Government is seeking applications for 2012-13 Community Action Grants from local community groups to help them take action to conserve and protect their local environment. 

As in previous rounds, local community, farming and Indigenous groups can apply for a grant between $5,000 and $20,000 (GST exclusive) to fund projects that encourage active participation and build the skills and knowledge of the community to protect and restore our environment and natural resources. Projects may include hosting a local field day, developing natural resource management plans, educating land owners in sustainable agriculture techniques and on-ground works. 

Community Action Grant applications are subject to a competitive assessment process. Applications will be assessed based on alignment to Caring for our Country priorities, community engagement, project feasibility and value for money. All successful applicants must finish their project by 30 June 2013. 

For more information on eligibility and to submit a Community Action Grants application, visit the http://www.nrm.gov.au/“>Caring for our Country website or telephone 1800 552 008.

Applications close at 5pm (AEDT), on Tuesday 27 March 2012.

Programs that focus on the management of serrated tussock are eligible under this program as outlined in the Business Plan:

Reducing the impact of vertebrate pest animals and/or Weeds of National Significance

The target is to reduce the impacts of vertebrate pest animals and/or Weeds of National Significance to maintain or improve biodiversity and productivity outcomes in Australian Government priority areas, including on buffer zones and agricultural land.

Activities should focus on helping communities integrate action on all weeds and pests, including the identification of impediments and solutions to their effective control under different land uses to help protect biodiversity in priority areas. Their impact will be reduced more effectively through collaborative activities that control outlier infestations, strengthen containment lines and/or bring core infestations under management control, or eradicate where feasible, to reduce the risk of new infestations.

Investment scope

The Government is calling for invasive species applications that help communities to:

• implement long-term solutions to the effective control of Weeds of National Significance and animal pests that threaten priority biodiversity areas across different land uses, including on agricultural land
• control outlier infestations and/or strengthen containment lines of Weeds of National Significance where an adverse impact on biodiversity or other important environmental and/or productivity assets can be demonstrated
• address the impact of vertebrate pests and/or Weeds of National Significance on nationally threatened species and communities occurring in World Heritage areas and critical aquatic habitats (including buffer zones), noting that pests that have already received significant funding under previous rounds of Caring for our Country will not be a priority for funding in 2012/13 (camels, cane toads, rodents on off-shore islands excluding Lord Howe Island and foxes in Tasmania)
• contribute to the goals of relevant national strategies including Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–2030, the Australian Pest Animal Strategy and the Australian Weeds Strategy including subsidiary species level strategic plans for Weeds of National Significance
• specifically address the objectives and actions of the relevant Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 threat abatement plans and, where appropriate, any other relevant jurisdictional management plans
• use technically feasible, recognised, permitted and effective control methods for the area being managed
• comply with all relevant codes of practice and standard operating procedures for humane pest animal control including those available fromwww.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/vertebrate-pests/codes/humane-pest-animal-control.

It is likely that applications under this target will also link to outcomes under other targets, including Ramsar wetlands, coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats, World Heritage areas and/or sustainable farm practices targets.

At a local level Community Action Grants are also available to help communities manage threats from invasive species. For more information see how we invest.