Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate

ACT Environment Grants

The ACT Environment Grants fund community-based projects that support on-ground environmental activities consistent with the ACT Government’s policies. They have been available to the community since 1997.

Recipient

Project Purpose

Amount

Southern ACT Catchment Group

This project aims to rehabilitate four degraded dams on Amberley Farm to restore ecosystem function for supporting a range of native species by providing greater habitat complexity and connectivity corridors for birds.

$9,050

UCA

This project aims to rectify major erosion damage and re-establish a degraded access path to allow safe access to the Murrumbidgee river by community groups visiting the Greenhill’s Conference Centre and Camp Cottermouth.

$16,438

SACTCG

This project is designed to address weed infestations across two properties along the Murrumbidgee River complimenting work Undertaken by Parks and Conservation staff and its effect on Box Gum Woodland along the Murrumbidgee River corridor.

$10,480

ACT Wildlife

The Project will identify wombat habitats in the ACT and select one area in which to carry out a mange treatment and eradication research program.

$19,830

GACR

This project aims to engage the community to restore species-rich native grasslands in areas currently dominated by grasses and weeds using an effective technique for restoring exotic perennial grass, phalaris.

$21,165

GACR

This project aims to engage the community to propagate and plant the Endangered Murrumbidgee Bossiaea (Bossiaea grain) in the lower Molonglo catchment.

$14,025

Molonglo Catchment Group

The project aims to involve Ngunnawal people in an understanding of and caring for a key pathway in the Ngunnawal landscape and enable cultural knowledge and land management practices to be shared, applied and integrated with non-Aboriginal NRM practices, in on-ground applications.

$23,187

GACR

The project aims to link and restore the landscape through the protecting of farm dams and connecting them to riparian, corridors, wetlands remnant vegetation.

$28,200

Ginninderra Catchment Group

This project aims to restore and enhance two nationally threatened ecosystems (Natural Temperate Grasslands and Box-Gum Woodlands) of the Ginninderra Catchment through better management of these ecosystems by the community, including a new Aboriginal Landcare Group.

$22,625

Southern ACT Catchment Group

This project will undertake a partnered approach with SACTCG, rural lessee at Kerrabee the National Equestrian Centre and adjacent ACT Government land managers, to control infestations of significant invasive weeds, Blackberry and Serrated Tussock, to enhance the biodiversity values of adjacent Yellow-box Gum Woodland.

$20,000

ACT Rural Grants

The ACT Rural Grants program was initiated by ACT Natural Resource Management in the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate through funding provided under the National Landcare Programme. Under the grants program, ACT rural landholders are supported to undertake activities on their farms which:

  • improve groundcover, native vegetation, soil health and/or water quality
  • minimise off-site impacts of farming activities
  • protect biodiversity
  • improve biosecurity
  • demonstrate coordinated regional or landscape-scale partnerships to address priority issues including weed and pest animals issues
  • prepare for climate variability and climate change.

Recipient

Project Purpose

Amount

Rural landholder – Symonston

Construction of electric fencing for grazing and habitat management and construction and installation of 70 native tree guards to protect trees growing in box gum woodlands from kangaroo and rabbit predation.

$2,950

Rural landholder – Coree

Installation of fencing and woody weed control to protect and enhance riparian zones along Swamp Creek.

$9,700

Rural landholder – Booth

Construction of subdivision fencing to divide a paddock according to land class to improve grazing management, groundcover and pasture composition.

S10,000

Rural landholder – Tharwa

Second year of support for cropping of forage crops to address infestations of African Lovegrass, improve farm production and reduce fire risk.

$6,711

Rural landholder – Kambah

Construction of subdivision fencing and provision of water supply infrastructure on a horse agistment property to reduce erosion and trampling by horses at gates and feed areas, improve groundcover and reduce erosion and sedimentation of waterways.

$,7812

Rural landholder – Paddys River

Construction of fencing and stock water infrastructure to support the introduction of a rotational grazing system to improve grazing management, groundcover and pasture composition.

$5,975

Rural landholder – Booth

Construction of fencing to subdivide land according to capability to improve grazing management, groundcover management and pasture composition.

$10,000

Rural landholder – Cotter

Construction of subdivision fencing and provision of water supply infrastructure on a horse agistment property to reduce erosion and trampling by horses at gates and feed areas, improve groundcover, reduce erosion and sedimentation of waterways and improve pasture composition and diversity.

$10,000

Rural landholder – Naas

Construction of subdivision fencing to divide a paddock according to land class to improve grazing management, groundcover and pasture composition and support improved biodiversity.

$10,000

ACT Heritage Grants

The ACT Heritage Grants Program is an annual funding program administered by the ACT Government to assist the community to conserve and promote the heritage of the ACT.

Recipient

Project Purpose

Amount

Tidbinbilla Pioneers Association

Rock Valley Homestead Conservation Works
Restore the pisé walls of Rock Valley Homestead, Tidbinbilla.

$4,500

Southern ACT Catchment Group

Theodore Aboriginal Artefact Grinding Site
Highlight the significance and use of the heritage listed Theodore Aboriginal Grinding Groove Site.

$6,000

Kingston and Barton Residents Group Inc.

Conservation of Pillar Signposts in Heritage Precinct
Repair and conserve the eight remaining 1930 concrete pillar signposts in the Barton and Kingston precincts.

$6,620

Institute of Foresters of Australia

Signage at Yarralumla Forestry Heritage Precinct
Install permanent signage to commemorate five historic buildings and sites located at the Yarralumla Forestry Heritage Precinct.

$12,380

National Trust of Australia (ACT)

2017 Heritage Festival Open Day
Assist with the co-ordination of this popular event, held during the Canberra and Region Heritage Festival in April 2017.

$11,900

St John the Baptist Anglican Church Reid

Conservation of Lychgates.
Conserve the 1930s lychgates which mark the entrance to
St John’s churchyard.

$16,874

Anglican Parish of Manuka

Replacement of St Paul’s Western Doors.
Replace the west doors of the church to reflect the original design of the architect.

$5,000

Reid Uniting Church

Roof restoration works RUC.
Restoration works to the roof and update the conservation management plan for this heritage-listed church.

$9,498

National Trust of Australia (ACT)

2017 National Trust Urban Polaris.  
Run a seven hour navigating and cycling event incorporating ACT landmarks and heritage assets as checkpoints during the April 2017 Heritage Festival.

$8,750

Australian National University

Oral History Project.            
Record the oral histories of a number of eminent people connected to the significant history of the Australian National University.

$2,250

Australian National University

Heritage Landscaping at Mount Stromlo Observatory.
Re-establish the heritage orchard and landscape at Mount Stromlo Observatory.

$22,600

Australian Railway Historical Society

Upgrades to Canberra Railway Museum Platform.
Upgrade the Canberra Railway Museum platform to enable accessibility for prams, the elderly and those with special needs.

$28,178

Tuggeranong Arts Centre

Violet’s Park artwork and interpretive signage.
Artwork and interpretive signage at Violet's Park, Ngunnawal, named after the greatly respected Ngunnawal elder Violet Bulger (1900–1993).

$10,000

Molonglo Catchment Group

Black Mountain Woodland Walk interpretive signage.
A partnership with the Friends of Black Mountain to further enhance the visitor experience of the Woodland Walk on Black Mountain Nature Reserve.

$15,478

Ainslie School

Oral history project.
Conduct an oral history project to celebrate the school's 90th birthday in 2017.

$9,940

Greening Australia Capital Region

Cultural tree mapping and knowledge sharing.
Identify, record, register and protect local, culturally significant trees in the Canberra region.

$33,742

Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre

Digitisation of Lyall Gillespie Collection.
Digitise historian Lyall Gillespie’s collection of photographs, audio tapes and documents.

$7,500

Canberra and District Historical Society Inc.

Reprinting of the Jefferis and Whelen Journal.
Print workshop copies of the Jefferis and Whelen journals which record the 1,300 miles of road journeys around the Federal Capital Territory in the early 1900s.

$5,000

Canberra Archaeological Society

Interpreting and Promoting Red Hill Aboriginal Campsite. Install two interpretive signs at the Red Hill Aboriginal Camp.

$5,000

Canberra Croquet Club

Update Conservation Management Plan.
Update the 2005 conservation management plan in order to guide future management of the site and building.

$4,840

Bruce Gibbs

Cuppacumbalong Homestead Conservation Works. Undertake conservation works to the heritage listed Cuppacumbalong Homestead, Tharwa.

$10,000

Next Generation Energy Storage Program

The Next Generation Energy Storage program aims to support the installation of up to 36MW of battery storage systems in ACT homes and small businesses by 2020. This program was an outcome of a detailed assessment of various ways to support energy storage on our network, to reduce costs for all ACT electricity users.

Grants to households and businesses are provided via eight battery installers who were selected through a competitive process. This ensures the best value for money for the Territory and that batteries are only installed by skilled and accredited tradespeople. The current grant price is $825 per kilowatt (kW) of Sustained Peak Output.

Recipient

Project Purpose

Amount

8 ACT Battery Installers

To support the installation of energy storage systems in ACT homes and businesses.

$2,600,000

Renewable Energy Innovation Fund Direct Grants Program

The Renewable Energy Innovation Fund (REIF) direct grants program provides flexible, early-stage funding to support a diversity of new and emerging technologies and ventures with the potential to support the development of the ACT as an export-oriented hub for renewable energy innovation.

Seven ACT renewable energy businesses have been awarded funding in a recent REIF Direct Grants round to a value of up to $1.1 million, subject to the successful conclusion of grant negotiations.

Recipient

Project Purpose

Amount

Renewable energy businesses

To support a diversity of new and emerging technologies and ventures with the potential to support the development of the ACT as an export-oriented hub for renewable energy innovation.

$1,100,000

Innovation Connect Renewable Stream

The Innovation Connect Renewables Stream aims to support commercial opportunities within the renewable energy and cleantech sectors and complements the existing Innovation Connect proof of technology funding streams. Both funding streams provide matched-funding of up to $30,000 as well as business mentoring and accommodation at the Renewables Innovation Hub, to assist local start-ups and entrepreneurs. Three renewable energy businesses have been awarded funding in a recent Innovation Connect Renewables Stream round to a total value of $97,000.

Recipient

Project Purpose

Amount

Renewable energy businesses

To assist early stage businesses and entrepreneurs to accelerate the development of their innovative products and services.

$97,000

Commissioner for Sustainablity and the Environment

In-kind support is more common than the provision of direct funding. Staff in-kind support is in the form of student internships to undertake course-related projects, professional placements and support for student research groups at universities. However, particularly for well-established community events and projects, direct funding is sometimes provided.

Another important facet of support is the preparation and provision of materials, as well as the promotion of local sustainability endeavours and events through our website and social media platforms.

Youth Advocacy and Community Engagement

Recipient

Project Purpose

Amount

Parliament of Youth on Sustainability

Sponsorship for student prizes and support in lead up to the event, including the development of a factsheet and presentation on the ACT ecological footprint to assist teachers with the subject matter.

$1,000 and In-kind staff time

Australian National University (ANU) Light Rail Project

Students from the ANU studying Complex Environmental Problems in Action worked with the Office to undertake a project in relation to the 2016 Auditor General’s Report, The Initiation of the Light Rail Project.

Professional mentoring and support for the duration of the project (half the university semester) was provided by the Office.

In-kind staff time