Bushfire Recovery Local Community Projects Grants

Who can apply?

To be eligible to apply, an organisation must be a legal entity which is either:

• Incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2001 (Vic), the Corporation (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth), or a similar type of incorporation.
• Examples include:
  • Committees of Management, incorporated under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978(Vic)
  • an Alpine Resort Management Board or a Local Government Authority (LGA), including LGA managed and regulated trusts
  • a not-for-profit organisation, including community groups that are an incorporated body, cooperative, association or social enterprise
  • business and industry groups, including chambers of commerce and business associations, industry peak bodies, business, and industry networks
  • a research organisation or academic institution.
• A social enterprise with a clearly stated purpose or mission specifically related to disaster event recovery or provision of services to the affected community is being supported under this funding.

Applicants must also:

• have a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
• have no outstanding reports required by any other government grant program
• deliver the proposed project in an eligible Local Government Area

Please note

Applicants that are not incorporated or do not have an ABN may still be eligible to apply if supported by an eligible auspice organisation (provided they meet all other criteria)

• all registration details provided must match the name of the applicant or auspice organisation
• applicants must contact ERV to discuss project ideas and seek input from the local Community Recovery Committee (CRC) at least 7 days before applications close

Applicants to previous LER Local Community Projects (Rounds 1–2) are eligible to apply.

Who cannot apply?

The following are ineligible:

• political parties and organisations
• an individual, group of individuals or sole traders
• registered primary or secondary schools, and preschools
• an unincorporated association (unless an auspice arrangement is in place)
• discretionary investment trusts and fixed trusts that are not a registered not-for-profit organisation.

Types of projects that will be supported

You are encouraged to use local materials, suppliers, and workers where possible.

Supported projects will:

• commence within six months of the funding deed being executed by ERV and be completed by 31 December 2023.
• align with one or more of the following project categories:
  • Enabling infrastructure
  • Industry and business development
  • Social development
  • The natural environment and resource development
  • Built environment and adaptation
  • Aboriginal culture and healing

You can only spend grant funds on eligible expenditures. To be eligible, expenditure must be a direct cost of the project or program. Examples of eligible expenditure include:

• Salaries and on-costs for personnel directly employed in delivering the project activities such as project managers (this should be calculated on a pro-rata basis relative to their time commitment).
• Costs you incur to obtain planning, environmental or other regulatory approvals during the project period, however, associated fees paid to the Commonwealth, State, and local government are not eligible.
• Staff training that directly supports the achievement of project outcomes
• Contract expenditure, including the cost of any agreed project activities that you contract to others directly relating to the program objectives
• External labour and external consulting expenditure to cover the cost of contracting others to undertake core elements of the project related to construction and may include architect services, design services, project management, quantity surveying and building services
• Purchase (or hire /lease) equipment and materials to support eligible project activities such as building materials, ICT cabling, fit-out of the infrastructure, fixed furniture, landscaping
• Workshops and conferences, including venue hire, catering, and networking costs
• Community events, including exhibitions and cultural heritage events
• Building modifications where you own the modified asset and the modification is required to undertake the project
• Contingency costs up to a maximum of 10 per cent of the eligible project costs
• Domestic travel to and from the on-ground location is limited to the reasonable cost of accommodation and transportation required to conduct the agreed project activities
• Administrative support and overheads additional to the normal day-to-day running costs of the organisation, including project management or project coordination
• Financial auditing of project expenditure.

Alternative project types and activities not listed above may still be eligible, provided they are strongly aligned with the program objectives and effectively address a priority recovery initiative identified by the disaster event affected communities.

If you are unsure about the eligibility of your project activities or have an alternative project type, contact ERV for advice and guidance before you apply.

Types of projects that will not be supported

Examples of activities and costs not eligible include:

• costs relating to depreciation of plant and equipment beyond the life of the project
• operational expenditure, including but not limited to regular repairs and maintenance
• purchase of land or existing infrastructure, including the costs associated with the sub-division of land
• business case development and feasibility studies
• projects that may have a negative impact on the environment, heritage, existing businesses, services and/or communities
• passing on funding to a third party in the form of a sponsorship, grant, or donation
• repair works or activities that are otherwise covered by insurance
• political and/or fundraising activities
• purchase of alcohol, gifts, prizes, or incentives (e.g., thank you gifts, gift cards or similar rewards)
• asset purchases benefiting individuals (as opposed to those owned by an organisation for community benefit)
• project management or administration costs that are more than 15 per cent of total funding requested
• activities outside of the funded period, including retrospective funding for projects that have commenced or are completed before funding is approved
• projects that require ongoing or recurrent funding to succeed or deliver benefit
• projects that are within the responsibility of another State, Federal or Local Government program and/or are more suitably funded (or have already been funded) under another program
• activities that will break any Federal, State, or local laws, including any current coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions or health directions.

Local community benefit

Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed project and its outcomes will:

• address a need of one or more communities that has arisen due to the impacts of the 2019-20 bushfires
• support one or more of the program objectives.

Local participation and support

Applicants must provide evidence the community supports the project. Evidence could include:

• Community Recovery Committee engagement and support
• minutes or reports from community meetings
• letters of support from local community groups and organisations
• demonstrate how they have been responding to the impacts of the bushfire (e.g., working or providing services within affected areas, supporting communities that were significantly affected etc.).

Feasibility and delivery

Applicants must provide evidence the project has been adequately planned and costed. Applicants must provide project planning and delivery details across the key areas outlined below.

Project planning

The applicant has provided a detailed Project Plan (using the ERV template), which outlines:

• timeframes – clear and realistic delivery timeframes which have accounted for any required assessment or approval processes and confirm the project can be completed by 31 December 2023 (at the latest)
• project risks – potential risks identified, and suitable mitigations and response measures outlined
• relevant expertise - the applicant has detailed all responsible parties, their roles and confirmed they have the necessary, skills specialist expertise and/or qualifications to deliver the project (or will engage qualified personnel and/or contractors who have current and adequate insurance, licenses, permits and approvals for all works)

Approvals, permits and compliance

The applicant has identified, planned for, and budgeted appropriately to meet any applicable project approvals, permits and/or compliance requirements, or has confirmed that there are no regulatory impediments that exist during delivery of the project, such as:

• permits and/or approvals – the applicant has obtained and has evidence of all permits and/or approvals to deliver the project (e.g., planning, construction, zoning, safety, permit, heritage, cultural, vegetation, or environmental), or is currently seeking them, with an understanding of the associated timeframes and costs,
• insurance cover – evidence project activities will be covered by a suitable level of insurance as required by ERV for the duration of funding, including Public Liability insurance (and if required, other insurance such as volunteers or workers insurance)
• endorsement(s) – written evidence of endorsement by the building owner, landowner, or manager (e.g., for projects on public land – approval obtained from the local council or the Department of Environment, Land, Water Planning)
• legal compliance - the applicant has identified any applicable Federal, State, or local laws, legislation, and/or requirements during delivery of the project, for example:
  • infrastructure – local planning laws, building codes, zoning, standards, and accreditations under the Building Act 1993 (Vic) or Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic)
  • heritage and/or infrastructure – conservation of protected cultural heritage and significant archaeological sites under the Heritage Act 2017 (Vic) and Aboriginal Heritage Act 2008 (Vic)
  • environmental – habitat protection, impact assessments, zoning, overlays, contamination/pollution risks, vegetation offsets under the (Environment Protection Act 2017 (Vic), Environmental Effects Act 1978 (Vic)
  • cultural (for all projects) – obligations and considerations to ensure the rights and interests of local Aboriginal communities under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 (Vic) and Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)
  • any current coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions or health directions.

Budget and financial planning

The applicant has provided a clear and detailed budget for the project, which demonstrates how project costs:

• are accurate, reasonable and represent value for money
• include suitable project management cost into the project budget
• include an appropriate budget allocation for any potential permits, planning approvals and/or other similar costs
• have potential to benefit the recovery of the local economy and create local employment opportunities
• are supported by any contributions from other funding sources or in-kind support (if relevant)
• projects over $500,000 must also provide additional mandatory financial documents (see ‘Mandatory documents and attachments’).

Alignment with recovery plans

Applicants must demonstrate how the project aligns with recovery needs or priorities identified in one or more of the following:

• Community Recovery Plan
• Municipal Recovery Plan
• State Recovery Plan
• National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework
• National Strategy for Disaster Resilience
• any other relevant local government strategies.

See guidelines for full assessment criteria.

Long term outcomes

Applicants must show how the project will deliver an ongoing sustainable benefit for the community through at least one of the following:

• providing ongoing facilities for community use
• providing community services
• promoting Aboriginal participation and ownership
• providing economic benefit for the area
• increasing the capacity of the business community
• producing sustained employment opportunities and decreased skill shortages in key sectors
• increasing and restoring visitor confidence in the region
• improving community wellbeing
• restoring or improving the natural environment
• improving community resilience to future natural disasters
• reducing future disaster risks.

This grant program is closed. Thank you to everyone who took the time to apply.

You can visit the Grant Portal directly to see other grant programs that are available or check your submission.

For any grant-related questions please email grants@brv.vic.gov.au