Supports community groups and organisations to enhance, protect and restore the natural environmental assets of the Shire.

$50,000 has been allocated from the Bega Valley Shire Council's Environment Levy to enhance the local environment through the ‘Community Environment Grants Program’.

A maximum of $6,000 is available for any one project through a competitive process.

The Community Environmental Grant aims to:

• Support community groups and organisations to enhance, protect and restore the natural environmental assets of the Shire.
• Encourage and foster environmental ethic and behaviour change amongst the community.
• Increase community awareness and understanding of environmental assets.
• Support conservation strategies currently undertaken by Council.
• Assist in the provision of innovative environmental management projects.

Applicants are expected to contribute to the project through in-kind use of labour or materials. Labour hours provided by project participants should be estimated and costed at $52.19/hour NSW peak volunteering body, Centre for Volunteering's Cost of Volunteering Calculator (with specialist resources to be agreed in consultation with Council). As the grants program is competitive, the higher the level of in-kind contribution, the more competitive the application will be.

To be eligible for funding under Council’s Community Environment Grants Program, the community group or organisation and project must meet the following criteria.

• Projects need to be located within the Bega Valley Shire and be for the benefit of the local community.
• Only non-profit incorporated community groups or organisations are eligible for funding.
• Projects involving on-ground works must be undertaken on Council owned or managed lands or on sites providing important environmental benefits to the wider community.
• Project applications should include current public liability insurance (Certificate of Currency). 
• Project applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Project applications should be supported by letters of support.
• Projects need to be completed by 30 June with a final report completed within 3 months of this date.
• Projects need to be SMART – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and able to be delivered in accordance with a timeline.

• Phone: (02) 6499 2222
• Email: council@begavalley.nsw.gov.au