The purpose of the grants are to protect and enhance the natural assets and biodiversity of the Sunshine Coast, and promote ecologically sustainable management of the region’s environmental values.

Landholder Environment Grants (LEG) provide financial assistance for private rural landholders to undertake on-ground projects on their properties.

Funding details:

As funds are limited and it is anticipated that many worthwhile projects will be submitted, applications seeking a modest amount of funding are more likely to be successful.

Applicants may apply for up to $15,000 assistance towards their project. The delivery of the Landholder Environment Grants program is subject to annual budget allocations.

Landholder contribution requirements:

• To be eligible for assistance, a landholder will need to contribute to the project. The landholder contribution can be cash, in-kind or a combination of both.
• Cash contributions are where the landholder pays for materials and/or labour with their own money.
• An in-kind contribution is where the landholder contributes their own physical labour, the use of their own machinery, or project materials (e.g. fence posts, herbicide, mulch).

This is calculated over the life span of the project up to acquittal (usually 12 months from receipt of grant funds) and within the project area. 

• in-kind contributions are valued at $30/hour for the landholder’s labour 
• when calculating in-kind contributions for use of your own materials, equipment and/or running costs, you should use reasonable market prices for materials and reasonable market hire rates for machinery

The proposed funding amount and landholder contribution should be discussed with a Conservation Partnerships Officer during the site visit.

Application is a 3 stage process:

1. Expression of Interest
2. Site visit from a council Conservation Partnerships Officer
3. Online application

Eligibility

Who can apply?

Private rural landholders of the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area, who have satisfactorily met all acquittal conditions of previous council grants are eligible to apply.

Projects eligible for funding:

Projects must be on privately-owned rural land within the Sunshine Coast Council Local Government Area. Landholders can apply for assistance to carry out natural resource management activities such as: 

• fencing to restrict stock access to significant areas of native vegetation, wetlands or waterways 
• installing off-stream stock watering points and stock crossings
• revegetating degraded areas and establishing native vegetation corridors and buffer zones
• reducing sediment and nutrient runoff on farms
• controlling environmental weeds to rehabilitate native vegetation areas
• modifiying existing fencing to make it more wildlife friendly

The following costs are eligible for funding:

• purchase of materials such as herbicide, tubestock, mulch, and fencing materials
• costs to engage a suitably qualified and experienced contractor
• hire of specialised equipment which is essential for the completion of the project

Other activities may be considered after consultation with a Conservation Partnerships Officer during the site visit.

Projects not eligible for funding:

Works or activities that:

• are not on private land
• are a condition of a council or state government development approval
• are the legal responsibility of the landholder (e.g. control of restricted matter (i.e. invasive plants in Categories 1, 2, 5, 6 & 7, Schedule 2, Part 2) in the Biosecurity Act 2014, new boundary fencing (modifying existing boundary fence to make wildlife friendly is eligible), property rates and approval fees)
• are for control of aquatic weeds 
• are the normal responsibility of the landholder (e.g. upgrades, maintenance or repairs to property infrastructure such as dams, weirs, drains, fences and tracks)
• contravene any local, state or commonwealth legislation or policy 
• are focussed on providing private or scenic amenity e.g. landscaping 
• involve projects on urban properties
• multiple projects on one property in a single application

The following costs are not eligible for funding: 

• your own or a relative’s labour 
• claiming wages for employees
• the purchase, servicing and/or associated costs of equipment (e.g. fuel, oil) 
• reimbursement for works or purchases that have already been undertaken prior to submitting an application 
• weed management activities in production or domestic areas (e.g. orchards, pastures, crops, gardens, lawns or around dwellings) 
• contractor fees for the purposes of planting tubestock granted from another council incentive program (e.g. Land for Wildlife) 
• maintenance of projects established with previous Landholder Environment Grant funding
• consultancy fees, work reports or administration fees
• herbicides that are restricted from use on the Sunshine Coast

• Phone: (07) 5475 7272
• Email: grants@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au