These small grants are designed to encourage community engagement and focus on delivering impactful local environmental initiatives.

Grassroots Environmental Grants - Round 1 Conservation Outcomes for Marine Plants provides grants of between $50,000 and $100,000 (excluding GST) for eligible applicants. A total of $2 million in funding is available in this round of the grant program.

Projects funded will be those that undertake on-ground activities that directly generate Conservation Outcomes for Marine Plants within eligible Local Government Areas (LGA) across South East Queensland. Activities should also encourage community participation and engagement.

This includes, but is not limited to, projects which seek to undertake activities such as revegetation, weed control, pest control, coastal sand dune and riverbank stabilisation or erosion control that have a direct benefit to Marine Plants.

Applicants may seek funding for grants of between $50,000 and $100,000 (excluding GST). Projects must be completed within three years from execution of the grant agreement.

Projects eligible for funding will be those that undertake activities that achieve a Conservation Outcome for Marine Plants within eligible LGAs in South East Queensland. Activities funded may include but are not limited to:

• restoring saltmarsh, mangroves, seagrass beds and/or coastal wetlands using an appropriate methodology
• fencing to protect environmentally sensitive areas that may contain or benefit Marine Plants, including protection from stock, pest animals and/or unauthorised access (does not include boundary fencing for wild dog exclusion)
• revegetation or restoration activities, ideally using plants cultivated from local seed stock and/or assisted natural regeneration, including soil stabilisation measures adjacent to tidal rivers and creeks for the benefit of Marine Plants
• targeted control of pest plant and animal species that reduce impacts on one or more Marine Plant species
• the engagement of conservation experts, and/or other suitably qualified groups including First Nations peoples, to develop action plans as a component of your on-ground activities to support the project deliverables
• flora, fauna and/or other suitable field surveys in order to help guide the development of appropriate management strategies and/or to establish environmental baselines to help quantify the level of benefit achieved for Marine Plants over the life of the project compared to 'business as usual'
• other activities where a clear Conservation Outcome for Marine Plants can be demonstrated.

The following are eligible to apply for a grant in their own right:

• properly established incorporated associations incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981
• properly established not-for-profit organisations including those registered under the Corporations Act 2001 or the Co-operatives National Law Act 2020 (must include evidence attached of constitution for not-for-profit organisations)
• Australian charities registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
• Indigenous corporations incorporated under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cwlth)
• Natural Resource Management (NRM) bodies.

The following entities are eligible to apply for a grant with a project sponsor:

• unincorporated organisations
• unregistered charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Project sponsors must be one of the following organisations:

• an organisation eligible to apply for funding in its own right
• a school (government and non-government school)
• a local government authority.

• Email: GEGrants@detsi.qld.gov.au