Community Water Grants Program

This email is to give you advance warning of the Federal Government’s popular Community Water Grants Program which is likely to open end of March/early April 2007. A list of some of the projects funded under the previous round of the program.

Here is a bit of a summary but I suggest you visit the website - and sign up to receive further updates and information.

There will also be two application forms this year. One for Water Savings, Efficiency and Recycling, and the other for Water Treatment. The on-line application will direct you to the appropriate form. If a hard copy application is required, you will need to call the Community Water Grants hotline when the Grants open and it will be posted to you. Each application is registered and must be obtained directly from the CWG office by the applicant.

For both the project levels (ie. up to $50K, and from $100K-$250K), at least 75% of the funds must be for on-ground activities. The remaining 25% can be spent on promotion, monitoring, water audits, project admin (max of 15%), or more on-ground activities.

There are also no "multiple site" projects allowed this round. Ie. no water saving projects for all the ovals in a region, or various sites in the same town. Separate project applications would need to be made for each site.

No projects for native gardens or returfing will be funded this year. The only type of planting that will be accepted is if it is for improving water quality.

Proof/evidence of how much water will be saved may well be required to be provided through Technical Advice from professionals. No guestimates will be accepted.

Monitoring and promotion of the project is very important to the assessors. The more people involved in the community and region the better.

The larger grants ($100K - $250K) are required to include a minimum of 200 hours volunteer work, and matching dollars. Only one large grant per organisation (per ABN) will be funded. Many projects may be submitted, but only the best one will actually be funded.

Grants of up to $50K don’t require matching funds, but due to the competitive nature of the Grants, it is strongly recommended. Many projects per organisation/group may be funded in this level.

JODI BJORKSTEN
Grants Co-ordinator
Strathbogie Shire Council

For details/interview call the Editor on (03) 5798 1858