Grassroots Grants FAQ's
Please see below a list of frequently asked questions that may assist with your application. If you have additional enquiries, please feel free to reach out to us directly on (08) 8391 7500 or email Hf.LandscapeBoard@sa.gov.au.
Who can apply and for what?
Grassroots grants are for projects which will help restore land, water and/or nature in your local area. Projects should broadly align with one or more of the priorities and Focus Areas detailed in the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Plan 2021-26.
Here are some examples of who can apply for a Grassroots Grant, and eligible projects:
Landholders
Eligible projects include fencing off creeks and dams from livestock and other grazing herbivores, revegetation with local native plants, planting/protecting regenerating paddock trees and or native grasses, fencing off and managing native vegetation areas from livestock and kangaroos, regenerative farming practices to improve soil health, signage promoting these projects.
Applications for projects which run across neighbouring properties and cover significant area, therefore providing landscape-scale environmental benefit will be viewed favourably in the assessment process.
Videos
Environmental volunteer groups
Projects might include fencing off creeks to protect native vegetation, revegetation with local native plants, weed and pest control in sensitive bushland and habitat areas, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and tools for bushcare, workshops, training, publications, signage, monitoring, surveys.
Videos
- Crag Care Grassroots Grant
- Friends of Hindmarsh River Estuary - Volunteer Group
- Landcare Groups - Volunteer day Tour
- Sixth Creek Catchment Group Bird Walk
- Shady Grove Grassroots Grants
First Nations
Caring for Country and cultural projects.
Projects to connect First Nations knowledge-holders with local landholders.
Videos
Schools
Revegetation, bushcare, tree nest boxes, creek protection/restoration, eco-trails, projects that connect students to country through Aboriginal cultural knowledge.
Schools must demonstrate that they are applying for a dedicated environmental project, not for regular school activities such as general grounds-keeping.
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Primary Producer groups and associations
Industry and agriculture groups, building capacity related to improving land management.
Environmental projects across neighbouring properties, soil regeneration signage, dung beetles projects, landscape-scale watercourse restoration, revegetation and paddock trees, biodiversity surveys, environmental land management training and workshops.
Videos
What projects do not qualify for a Grassroots Grant?
Funding will not be provided for projects such as general house and garden landscaping/amenity activities for private homes, sporting clubs, schools and early learning centres. Community gardens including edible gardens will also not be considered.
Projects seeking funds only for weed control on private property, generally will not be funded as this is a basic landholder responsibility. Weed control is however a valued in-kind contribution to broader biodiversity restoration projects.
Where does my project need to be located?
To apply for a Grassroots Grant through the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board, your project must be within our Board's geographic footprint: this includes the whole of the Adelaide Hills, Alexandrina, Mount Barker, Victor Harbor and Yankalilla council districts, and some of the Onkaparinga council district. See a map here. If you are still unsure, please contact us.
What is a legal entity?
An applicant must be a ‘legal entity’, such as:
- Individuals
- Partnership (made up of two or more individuals)
- Corporations/companies under the Corporations Act 2001 – have a unique ACN and are represented by “Pty”, “Pty Ltd” or “Ltd” following the company name
- Associations – incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1985 (have “Inc.” after their name)
- Trustees in a trust (e.g. John Smith as Trustee for the Smith Family Trust)
- Local Government – under Local Government Act 1999
- Most Australian universities
What is not a legal entity?
- An unincorporated association or group.
- A trust (e.g. Smith Family Trust) however the trustees can be. The trustees may be individuals or companies.
- Businesses/business names.
- Some private schools. Some private schools are incorporated or companies, however, many are not.
- Public schools are NOT a legal entity, however the contract would be with the Minister of Education and Child Development, which is a legal entity.
Applicants who are not a legal entity will need to seek an eligible sponsor.
When is a project sponsor required?
If you are not a legal entity e.g. a group of neighbouring landholders working together for pest management activities, you will need a person or organisation to be responsible for receiving and managing grant funding and reporting.
This could be the local council, an incorporated group or an individual. A sponsor’s letter is required to be submitted with your application if you are using a sponsor.
Typically, what level of interest do Grassroots Grants attract?
On average, over the last four years of these grants, the grant round has been oversubscribed by over two times, meaning only about a half of applications can be funded.
I am a landholder seeking a grant for works on my property. Can I apply?
As an individual you are eligible to apply. However, for your application to be competitive, you may wish to consider how your project could benefit the broader community, or provide opportunities for them to become involved. Alternatively you could apply for funding for a not-for-profit project in partnership with a community organisation, providing greater public benefit.
What do you mean by ‘Projects need to demonstrate public benefit’?
Because these grants come from public money, we want projects to have outcomes that benefit the community and not just individuals. By ‘public benefit’ we mean activities that have a purpose for helping the ‘general public’ or a ‘sufficient section of the general public’. It also comes down to ‘the level’ of public benefit. For example: a private landholder wants to apply for money to fence off a watercourse from stock access. This has public benefit – because it’s in the general public benefit for cattle not to be fouling creeks that travel into other public resources/reservoirs or to downstream neighbours. In contrast, a private landholder wanting to apply for money to tackle blackberry in a paddock does not have the same level of public benefit.
Can I purchase equipment to help me undertake on-ground work?
Yes, if you are a school or community volunteer group applying in Tier 1.
Otherwise, generally, funding is not provided for the purchase of assets which become the sole property of an individual (equipment for groups however, is an eligible expense). Individuals are encouraged to borrow or hire equipment. If in doubt, contact us.
What legal responsibilities should I be aware of?
If successful with funding, your project is likely to invoke some legal responsibilities. This could range from landholder permissions (for whose land you may be working on); to water affecting activity permits (if there are works proposed in or around waterways, floodplains, lakes and dams); council and/or development approvals; Aboriginal Heritage; threatened species considerations; native vegetation clearance and Work Health and Safety considerations such as public safety and volunteer management.
You will need to check if your project is a Water Affecting Activity. If a permit is required, this must be identified in the Grant Agreement along with any conditions. The board will apply a permit fee exemption as part of the grant approval.
Will extensions be granted for late applications?
No, once the grants close, late applications will not be accepted.
Can I apply more than once?
Yes, provided the projects are separate and and you/your organisation has the capacity to deliver them. However, please be mindful that these grants have been oversubscribed in previous rounds. The assessment panel will consider equitable distribution of funds among the community, as well as addressing landscape and regional priorities.
I run a commercial business, can I apply?
Yes, as long as the project and activities are not-for-profit and meets one or more of the priorities laid out in the Guidelines for Applicants.
When will I find out if my application has been successful?
It is anticipated that the assessment and approvals process will take approximately six to eight weeks after the application period closes, although this is dependent upon the number of applications recevied. We do go a little quiet during assessment phase, but rest assured all applicants will be advised in writing (via email) of the outcome of their application. This happens promptly after our June board meeting.
When and how will the grants be paid?
Most grants will be paid 100% upfront within a month of signing an agreement. In some circumstances (a large grant, or a higher risk project), we may negotiate staged payments e.g. 80% upfront, 20% upon completion.
Payments are processed via Shared Services SA. If you are a successful applicant, but not currently a vendor with Shared Services SA, we will guide you through how to become a vendor.
I am registered for GST – why can’t I invoice with GST added?
Specific advice from the ATO’s GST team has indicated that Grassroots Grantees do not constitute a ‘supply’ of goods or services to our organisation. What this means - if you are successful in gaining a grant, it’s not appropriate to then apply additional 10% GST to invoices for your grant money, as ‘supply’ of goods and services does not occur in those transactions. Instead, we recommend you include in your application the total amount to cover all GST on all your outgoings and invoice for the same amount if successful.
Are extensions available past my project end date if required?
It is possible, however please carefully consider the likely maximum amount of time needed to deliver your project in the application stage.
Who can I ask for help with my application?
If your query is in relation to your grant content, please refer to the list of contacts in the Grant Guidelines for Applicants. Most advice will be provided over the phone or in person. We don’t help write applications.
For general information or assistance with Grassroots Grants, please contact us on 8391 7500 or email hf.landscapeboardgrants@sa.gov.au.
What other sources of funding are available?
Grassroots Grants are a very popular funding option in our community and we are fortunate to receive many more high quality projects and applications than we can support. If you think a Grassroots Grant might not be the best fit for your project, there are other sources of funding available. Connect with your local council, National Parks and Wildlife for Friends of Parks grants, Landcare Associations of SA for Landcare Grants.
Don’t forget our GreenSafe Grants especially for PPE purchases and equipment (<$500) and stay tuned to our events notifications as some of our workshops include incentives to support on-ground work.
An excellent source of grant information is the Hills and Coasts Grant Finder provided by Regional Development Australia (Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island).