Landowner Biodiversity Conservation Grant

Grant overview

The Landowner Biodiversity Conservation Grants program provides financial support to Cockburn residents living in the rural, rural living and resource zones, who wish to conserve and enhance the natural bushland and wetland areas on their property.

Program outline

You can receive up to $3,000 per property. 

You can apply for a range of conservation projects on your property, including:

• Weed control
• Revegetation
• Fencing to exclude stock
• Dieback control
• Habitat creation/water quality enhancement
• Feral animal control.

Grant criteria

To be eligible:

• Your property must be situated in the rural, rural living or resource zones (refer to map under 'Related Documents' below).
• You must have remnant bushland or wetland areas on your property and proposed works must benefit the conservation value of these areas. ‘Remnant bushland’ refers to patches of native trees, shrubs and/or grasses that have not been cleared or have re-established over a long period of time. 
• You must match the funding with financial or in-kind support (manual in-kind labour is calculated at $45/hr).
• You must be the owner of the property. The City will assess applications for vacant land or land where the owner is not in residence on a case-by-case basis.
• Environmental management practices must be technically sound and supported by the City’s Sustainability and Environment Team.
• Only local native plant species are to be used for revegetation (the City can supply a list of species for your property).
• Funding is not for personal items such as uniforms, food or tools.
• Funds must not be used to assist with an existing planning or environmental approval. 

How to apply

The grant round opens in September each year, and closes on 31 October.

To apply:

1. Contact the City’s Environmental Officer to discuss your project ideas and arrange an inspection of your property by council staff (August - early October).
2. Submit your application via the link below. 

 Apply for the Land Biodiversity Conservation Grant

Please note:

• Applications must be completed by 31 October (including quotes for works and some contractor works may require 2 quotes).​
• Successful applicants will be notified within six weeks of the application closing date.

Conditions

Conditions of approval:

• Landowners need to submit an application prior to the end of October and may be awarded a grant if they meet the eligible criteria.
• Groups or individuals that are subject to an active compliance investigation or prosecution involving the City of Cockburn will not be considered.
• Funds will not be provided to assist with complying with a pre-existing planning or environmental approval.
• The City of Cockburn Town Planning Scheme provisions state that no vegetation on a lot in the ‘Rural’ or 'Resource' Zone can be removed without approval. If any un-approved clearing is found on a relevant property, the landowner may be ineligible to receive the grant during a current, or future grant round.
• Not all applications will be successful. Grants will be allocated in order of merit based on addressing the eligibility criteria until the funding is exhausted.

All successful applicants are required to:

• Sign a Voluntary Management Agreement and Conditions of Funding form, which includes a commitment to manage the grant funded activities/outcomes for a minimum of three years (for example revegetation must be watered and weeded for a minimum 3 years to ensure survivability).
• Complete a ‘Statement by a Supplier’ form or provide an ABN. This will avoid 48.5% ‘Withholding Tax’ being deducted from the grant.
• Attend a minimum of one half-day environmental management workshop hosted by the City.
• Submit an Acquittal Report by 30 September the following year.

Allocation of grants:

• In order of merit until the annual funding allocation is exhausted.
• With a preference given to properties with larger remnant bushland or wetland areas that are of good biodiversity value.  Smaller areas will be considered if they are linked to adjoining properties or green corridors or if the conservation value of the area in question is extremely high.
• A new applicant will be given preference over an applicant that has previously received funding in consecutive years.

More information and contact

Please contact the Sustainability and Environment Team for more information or to discuss your application on 08 9411 3444 or email.