Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction

Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
Applicant Guidelines
Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire
Reduction Community Grants 2015 - 2017
Applicant Guidelines
Applications Close 10 April 2015
www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au
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Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
Applicant Guidelines
Introduction
The Port Phillip and Westernport CMA is coordinating the ‘Dandenong Ranges Wildlife Recovery, Weed
Management, and Fuel Reduction Programme’ funded by the Australian Government ($3 million over 3 years).
The program aims to improve the environmental health of the Dandenong Ranges by supporting wildlife recovery,
weed management and bushfire fuel reduction projects. The funding has been provided by the Australian
Government’s Department of Environment and has specific requirements for biodiversity and habitat gains as well
as bushfire risk reduction.
The overall program has three components:
• $450,000 over 3 years for work by the Community Weed Alliance of the Dandenongs (CWAD)
• $150,000 for a project with the Bullen Bullen Bush Tucker and Bush Medicine Tours
• $2,040,000 over 3 years for community grants ($680,000 per year)
This guideline focuses on the major component of this program; the community grants, which will be allocated
through calls for project proposals from the community.
Objectives of the community grants
The aim of the community grants part of the program is to improve the environmental health and reduce bushfire
risk in the Dandenong Ranges.
The program is specifically seeking to support projects that can show that these two aims are complementary.
That is, it is possible to improve native vegetation and habitat for native species (via actions like managing weeds
and pest animals) while reducing (or at least not increasing) bushfire risk.
Eligibility
Projects can focus on any public land, private land or both, within the program area (see the map below). Where
projects are working on public land, two types of projects will be favoured:
• Those that are led by a community group (e.g. a ‘Friends of’ group), or
• Those that coordinate work across adjacent public and private land.
This program cannot fund normal operations or maintenance responsibilities of the public land manager. It can
fund work on public land that involves collaborations between the community and the public land manager.
The project applicant can be the public land manager, a private sector group, or a community group. However, it
must be clear that the project is either community-led or a partnership.
Types of activities
Projects that combine the following activities will be supported:
On-ground work to improve biodiversity
• Weed control that improves conditions for native biodiversity
• Pest animal management that improves conditions for native biodiversity
• Revegetation with locally indigenous species
• Vegetation enhancement such as stock or vehicle exclusion from remnant vegetation.
It is critical that any activities that improve biodiversity do not increase bushfire risk. This requirement will influence
both the location and type of work that can be funded.
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Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
Applicant Guidelines
Community skills and knowledge
• Increasing community awareness and skills in managing native vegetation
• Increasing community understanding of bushfire fuel management and links to vegetation and
biodiversity
Bushfire fuel management
• Planned burns or mechanical fuel management that also enhances habitat for native species
• Control of weeds that act as fire fuel
• Fuel management to exclude fire from fire sensitive ecosystems
Research or studies
Research or studies that focus on addressing a knowledge or information gap could be supported. The project
must address a problem that has a specific link to on-ground work. Preference will be given to projects that
address the knowledge gap and follow through to ensure the information is immediately usable.
Activities that are unlikely to be supported
Some examples of projects that are unlikely to meet the goals of the program are provided below. The reason
these projects are unlikely to be supported is not because they are not worthwhile, but they are not the focus of
THIS program. Examples include:
• Research on the impact of planned burns and ecological thinning – not eligible because this is an issue
that is much larger than this program
• Projects focussed on meeting planned burning targets – this may not be suitable because the focus may
be too narrowly on fuel reduction. It may also not meet the requirement to be community-focussed
• Narrowly focussed tree-planting projects – while this may be eligible, the program is looking for projects
that focus on improving habitat and ecological conditions. Tree planting may be too narrowly focussed
• General awareness raising – this project is not aiming to improve general public awareness of either fire
or native biodiversity in the Dandenongs. If the awareness raising activity aims to bring about a specific
action or response among a group of landholders in a particular area then it may be eligible.
Coordination and collaboration with other projects
There is much work already occurring in the Dandenongs. There are strategies and plans for both biodiversity and
fire management already in place and being implemented. There may be opportunities for this program to fund
projects that deliver on the priorities in these strategies and plans. There should also be opportunities to
collaborate, co-invest, or at the very least, coordinate work with these existing projects.
Projects that can show how they coordinate and collaborate with these existing projects will be favoured. This
could include co-investment (cash or in-kind) or simply cooperation and coordination. Projects that can show how
they are delivering on priorities under existing (relevant) strategies and plans will also be favoured.
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Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
Applicant Guidelines
Program area
The program is focussed on the Dandenong Ranges. The approximate area where projects are to be focussed is
shown below.
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Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
Applicant Guidelines
Demonstrating how your project helps native biodiversity and reduces bushfire risk
As mentioned earlier in these guidelines, this program is seeking to support projects that can both improve
biodiversity and ideally, reduce bushfire risk. It is important that any projects that are focussed on improving native
vegetation and habitat for native species can clearly show that they do not increase bushfire risk. Similarly,
projects that are focussed on bushfire risk reduction must also be able to demonstrate that they deliver benefits to
native biodiversity. The information provided here is intended to help you to explain how your project will meet
these goals.
For the native vegetation and habitat aspects of your project, you should consider the following:
• Removing weed species and replacing with native vegetation can maintain or reduce bushfire fuel
• Reducing bark fuel loads can be achieved by selectively burning bark from trees (candling), and not replanting with stringy bark or ribbon/candle bark species
• Creating native grasslands or open woodlands, which can be slashed or burned appropriately to favour
native species, can reduce fire risk
• ‘Elevated’ fuel (i.e. above ground level) can be reduced by removal, thinning and clumping of vegetation
(native or weeds).
• ‘Ladder fuels’ can be reduced by removing or not planting dense, climbing plants (native or weeds)
• Replanting in clumps, rather than continuous plantings, can reduce fuel because it can interrupt fire
spread and creates spaces for slashing or other fuel management techniques
• Bushfire fuels (vegetation) should not be increased, and preferably decreased, within 200 metres of
settlements, houses, community assets and transport routes
• Ensuring that there is a long term plan for future management of the site is critical
For the bushfire fuel reduction aspects of your project, then you should consider the following:
• Fuel management activities supported through this project cannot have net negative outcomes for native
biodiversity
• There are some ecosystems that cannot tolerate fire and should be protected from burning (either
bushfire or planned burns)
• Fuel management techniques must be matched to the location
• Understanding ecological values of a proposed fuel management site (particularly threatened or
endangered species) will be critical
• Choosing low impact fuel reduction methods may be required
• Ensuring that timing of fuel reduction is complimentary to ecosystem outcomes will be critical
• Ensuring that there is a long term plan for future management of the site is critical
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Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
Applicant Guidelines
Types of grants available
Broadly speaking, the community will be invited to apply for funding in three categories:
a) Small short-term projects (up to $10,000) – these would be on-ground focussed projects, usually
focussed on a small area (e.g. a few hectares or so), that would be completed over 12 months or less. A
brief project application form will be required for these projects
b) Medium size projects ($10,000 – $50,000) – these projects would generally be working on a small to
medium size area and could be addressing multiple issues (e.g. weeds plus pest animals plus
revegetation) for up to three years (the maximum duration of this funding). A more detailed application
form will be required for this project type
c) Large projects (> $50,000) – these projects would focus on working on larger scale issues and or areas,
and would occur over multiple years. Initially anyone proposing a project of this scale would be asked to
prepare an Expression of Interest (EoI) form. If the project is successful at this stage of the process,
proponents will be invited to prepare a full project proposal.
Projects in categories a) and b) will be reviewed and immediately approved or declined. Larger projects (category
c) will progress via an expression of interest (EoI) process. Proponents who receive approval of their EoI will be
given time and assistance to prepare and submit detailed project plans for approval.
Examples of projects
Examples of the types of projects that could be supported are provided below. These examples are provided for
illustrative purposes only and are not based on any actual projects.
a) Small short-term projects (up to $10,000)
Examples of short-term projects:
• Community weed control in the Lyrebird Reserve. This project will bring together the local community,
through the ‘Friends of the Lyrebird Reserve’ group, to remove English ivy and other invasive weeds from
2 ha flora and fauna reserve. It will be held over 2 weekends during autumn and will involve manual
removal and disposal of the weeds. The areas will be treated with herbicide as follow-up action. It will
result in improvements to the quality of remnant native vegetation making it more suitable for native flora
or fauna. Since it is a small area, and the weeds species removed have little influence over fire risk, we
believe the bushfire fuel impact of this work will be negligible.
• Building community understanding of bushfire fuel and native biodiversity. This project consists of
six community information sessions (2 evening meetings and four sessions at the Monbulk Farmer’s
Market). The sessions will bring together local and external experts to present information on property
planning for both bushfire fuel management and for native biodiversity. It will show how these actions can
be complementary. Information sheets will also be prepared and provided to participants.
b) Medium sized projects ($10,000 - $50,000)
Medium size projects could consist of the same type of work as small short-term projects except that they are
operating on a larger scale (e.g. treating a larger area or working with a broader community) or it is important to
repeat actions over several years to achieve the long-term goals.
Examples could include:
• Magpie Creek Biolink. This project consists of planting or improving native vegetation (across private
and public land) that will act as habitat for flora and fauna. This vegetation will help to form a biolink along
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Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
Applicant Guidelines
•
•
the Magpie Creek improving biodiversity. The project will be focussed in damp gullies that are low fire
risk, so it will not increase fire risk to the Dandenongs community.
Improving habitat and reducing fuel through thinning. This project is working with 10 private
landholders in the Menzies Creek area who have adjoining areas of native vegetation. Through decades
of fire suppression, the native vegetation in the area has become extremely dense, which presents a
bushfire risk and also limits the habitat value of the area. This project will develop and implement a plan
to thin the area using all the appropriate techniques (burning, mechanical fuel modification)
Fuel management and habitat improvement in the upper Stringybark Creek. This project focuses on
working with 15 adjoining property owners to manage weeds and other non-native species across their
properties in the upper catchment of the Stringybark Creek. The work will identify options for reducing
non-native vegetation and replacing it with native species that keep fuel levels low (e.g. open forest) and
provide habitat for native mammals. There will be a planning phase for year 1 and an implementation
phase in year 2. Work will be coordinated across property boundaries for efficiency, for habitat value and
for fuel management.
c) Large projects (> $50,000)
Large projects could consist of the same type of work as has already been mentioned except that they are
operating on a larger scale (e.g. treating a larger area or working with a broader community). A larger scale project
might include plans to address multiple threats or issues in a staged process over several years.
The application process for these projects involves initially preparing an expression of interest (EoI) that describes
the project concept (goals, approach, types of actions involved). The EoIs will be assessed and those that clearly
meet the objectives of the program may be invited to prepare detailed project proposals.
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Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
Applicant Guidelines
Project applications & assessment
The following section describes the information that will be required in your project application. The amount of
detail required will be commensurate with the size of the project (e.g. small short-term projects will only require
brief descriptions).
The Community Grants Panel will review all eligible applications. Prior to the Panel reviewing projects, PPWCMA
will review all proposals to ensure they meet the primary eligibility criteria. Those criteria are that the project:
• Must focus on the Dandenongs (see Figure 1)
• Must be submitted by (or under the auspices of) an incorporated organisation
• Must contribute to the program goals detailed earlier.
Projects that do not meet these criteria will not be assessed by the Community Grants Panel. (More detailed
eligibility criteria and restrictions are described in the next section.)
The following table describes the information that is required in your application, and the way that information will
be assessed by the Community Grants Panel and PPWCMA.
It is important to note that the Panel and the PPWCMA can only assess your application based on the information
you provide. Your project application needs to be as clear as possible.
Application form sections
a. Project details (description):
What are you aiming to achieve with your project?
The goals of this program are to improve native vegetation
and habitat for native species (via actions like managing
weeds and pest animals) while reducing (or at least not
increasing) bushfire risk.
How does your project contribute to these goals?
That is, how will your project contribute to biodiversity
improvement? How will your project will either reduce
bushfire risk or at least avoid increasing it?
Assessment
The panel will consider the following questions in this section:
• To what degree will the project contribute to the
program goals?
• In particular, how does the project contribute to
biodiversity?
• How does the project either reduce bushfire risk or
at least, avoid increasing it?
What activities will be delivered, when, and by whom?
How will the funding be used?
What is the specific location where the activity will occur
(e.g. map, address, nearest crossroad)?
How will the work be maintained after the project has ended?
•
•
•
Does the project appear to be well-planned?
Is the project feasible, achievable?
How will the work be maintained after the end of
this project?
b. Delivery method (only required for medium and large projects)
Details on timing and delivery approach for each of the key
The panel will consider the following questions in this section:
activities should be provided here. Delivery approaches
• Is the proposed approach practical and feasible?
include volunteer labour, grants, contractors, workshops,
• Is this delivery approach likely to work well with this
property plans or other methods.
community?
• Is it technically sound?
• Has the timing of the activities been considered
and planned?
c. Project risks (only required for medium and large projects)
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Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
Applicant Guidelines
Describe the key risks to the project using the framework
included below.
Describe how these key risks will be managed
d. Outputs (only required for medium and large projects)
Please describe the specific outputs your project will
produce. Outputs are the tangible products and measures of
activities. Select from:
• Native vegetation – area established, maintained or
modified
o Area of direct seeding, mulching, plant
guarding, slashing, thinning, tube stock
planting
• Weed control – area treated
o Area of biological control, burning,
manual removal, drill and fill, mechanical
removal, spray
• Pest animal control – area treated
o Area of baiting, fumigation, shooting,
trapping, habitat destroyed
• Fence – area where fence installed, maintained,
removed, modified or replaced
o Purpose of fence- containment or
exclusion
o Target species – domestic stock, pest
animals, native species
• Area where fire regime has been altered
• Land manager agreements – number and area
covered by the agreement, type of agreement
(binding non-perpetual, binding perpetual)
• Field day, presentation, training or workshop –
number of events, participants
• Management plan – area covered by plan, focus for
the plan (conservation, fire, management practices,
flora, fauna, culture, heritage)
e. Budget
Total budget requested and details of how the funding will be
used.
Each budget line should also clearly state the quantity (with
units) and rates (price per unit) for each purchase.
Funding rates /costing guidelines
Volunteer in-kind labour is to be costed at $30/hour (max).
Generally contractor rates should be under $60/hour. Rates
above this must be explained and justified.
A maximum of 10% of project budgets can be allocated to
project management and administration. Any requirements
above this will require strong justification and will be
considered on a case by case basis.
The panel will consider the following questions in this section:
• Is the risk assessment adequate for the size
project? Are the key risks highlighted?
• Are the key risks adequately managed and
mitigated?
The panel will consider the following questions in this section:
• Will these outputs lead to the achievement of the
project goal(s)?
• Are there any significant gaps or other things that
would be needed to achieve the project goal(s)?
The panel will consider the following questions in this section:
• Is this budget reasonable compared to other similar
work?
• Given the project outputs, does it appear to be cost
effective?
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Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
Applicant Guidelines
General eligibility criteria and restrictions
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Applicants must be incorporated, insured and working in the Dandenong Ranges program area
Documentation of compliance with various laws and responsibilities (see Permits, consultation and legal
requirements section) must also be submitted as part of a project application
Organisations with outstanding reports from previous government grants may apply for new grants but are not
eligible to receive funds until outstanding reports are received by the PPWCMA. If a group requires an
extension for a past project, they will need to submit a written request to the PPWCMA for approval
On-ground works are not to be on-going maintenance – the responsibilities for ongoing maintenance will be
specified in your agreement with the PPWCMA
Unless there are exceptional circumstances, strong justification and demonstrated high value for money,
grants are not for the purchase/lease/hire of capital items that are a normal part of a landholder or
organisation’s responsibilities or for purchase of capital items exceeding $3000
The grant funding in your application will be GST exclusive. The PPWCMA will only pay the applicable GST to
organisations registered for GST. If you are engaging a contractor to undertake your project, include the full
cost of their quote in your application (i.e. including any GST payable to the contractor)
Groups must submit a copy of their Occupational Health & Safety Plan.
Incorporation and Insurance
In order to receive a PPWCMA Community Grant, your organisation needs to be incorporated or to be auspiced by
an incorporated organisation. You will need to contact and seek permission from the auspicing organisation before
applying as that organisation will be legally responsible. If your application is successful, the auspicing
organisation will be required to sign the project agreement and manage the funding. If your organisation is not
incorporated but wishes to be, information is available from the Department of Consumer Affairs
(www.consumer.vic.gov.au). Your organisation may also become incorporated under the Farm Tree and Landcare
Association – for more information go to: http://www.landcarevic.net.au/vff-ftla/projects/governance/introducingthe-ftla/incorporation.html or contact Farm Tree and Landcare Association on P. 9207 5527 F. 9207 5500 E.
ftla@vff.org.au
Your organisation needs to have public liability insurance of at least $10 million, or to be auspiced by an
organisation that carries such insurance. If your organisation is not insured and you are a volunteer Landcare
group, go to http://www.landcarevic.net.au/resources/for-groups/insurance or contact the Farm Tree and Landcare
Association for details of the insurance options they offer (details above). A certificate of currency must be
provided by applicants to demonstrate public liability of at least $10 million.
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Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
Applicant Guidelines
Risk Assessment Framework
Describe the major risks associated with the proposed project and the actions to be put in place to mitigate or
avoid these risks. What are the foreseeable occurrences/events that may prevent your project from being
successful (as described by success indicators in your project description). For example:
Risk
Description
Likelihood*
Consequence*
Rating
Current Controls/Contingency
Describe the
risk, its
sources and
impacts
RARE,
UNLIKELY,
POSSIBLE,
LIKELY,
ALMOST CERTAIN
Likely
(the last drought was
5 years ago and
regularly occurs
every 7 years)
INSIGNIFICANT,
MINOR,
MODERATE,
MAJOR,
CRITICAL
Major
(The expected rate
of seedling
survival in a
drought is 20%)
LOW,
MEDIUM,
HIGH,
SEVERE
Describe what you will do to
mitigate the risk, source or impact
to an acceptable level
HIGH
Local CFA tanker will be available
to assist with weekly watering of
seedlings during first spring /
summer if needed.
Unlikely
(The species will be
selected based on
EVC)
Possible
Moderate
(Only native
species will be
used)
Moderate
LOW
Advice will be obtained from NRM
agencies to ensure correct EVC for
location and species match to EVC.
LOW
Utilising a diversity of
communication methods including
established networks, community
workshops, prior approach that has
been successful and innovative
approaches relevant to your project.
Drought
causes high
seedling loss
without
manual
watering
Poor species
selection will
lead to poor
survival
Poor
response/
uptake from
community
LIKELIHOOD
CONSEQUENCE
Insignificant
Minor
Moderate
Major
Critical
Almost Certain
Low
Medium
High
Severe
Severe
Likely
Low
Medium
Medium
High
Severe
Possible
Low
Low
Medium
High
Severe
Unlikely
Low
Low
Low
Medium
High
Rare
Low
Low
Low
Medium
High
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Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
Applicant Guidelines
Permits, consultation and legal requirements
Native vegetation removal
Native vegetation means plants that occur naturally in Victoria, including trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses. This
includes areas of bushland with trees, scattered paddock trees, and treeless areas of scrub or grassland. In fact,
some of the most rare or threatened vegetation types do not include trees at all, such as native grasslands, many
wetlands and alpine communities. Sometimes projects include works that may result in the removal, destruction or
lopping of native vegetation (such as warren or burrow ripping). If you think your project may impact on native
vegetation, you should take the following steps.
1. Consider whether there are other options that would avoid the need to remove, destroy or impact native
vegetation (but note that pest control methods involving fumigation, explosives and firearms are not
eligible for funding).
2. If impacts on native vegetation can’t be avoided, you may need to seek permission before you can
proceed.
3. To seek a permit you will need to contact your local council. In some cases written agreement from a
relevant Department of Environment and Primary Industries officer would allow removal of native
vegetation beyond these levels, but this would require further investigation of any flora and fauna issues.
Your first point of contact should be your local council.
4. If you are not sure what zone you are in, contact your local council planning department.
If exemptions apply (i.e. if you don’t need a permit), you will need to show that this is the case by providing a
map or a copy of correspondence. It is recommended that landholders keep a record of clearing under any
exemption in the event that the clearing is contested.
For full details on native vegetation permit requirements, Google the following key words “native” “vegetation”
“removal” “Victoria”. The DEPI - Native vegetation permitted clearing regulations is the appropriate link.
Cultural Heritage
Cultural heritage must be taken into account when planning projects that will disturb the earth (e.g. activities like
rabbit ripping, widening paths etc.), particularly in areas identified as being sensitive for cultural heritage such as
waterways, wetlands and coastal sites.
To find out if your planned project site is located within an identified area of cultural heritage sensitivity you will
need to do one or more of the following:
o Look at the Areas of Cultural Heritage Sensitivity maps on the Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (OAAV)
website to see if your project site is within an area of cultural heritage sensitivity. PPW Region is mostly
covered by the Metro Region Maps section
o Contact the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Registry (VAHR) at Aboriginal Affairs Victoria directly – call 1800
762 003 or email vahr@dpcd.vic.gov.au or post to PO BOX 2392, Melbourne VIC 3001
o If your project is on public land, contact the land manager (e.g. Council, Parks Victoria etc.). The land
manager is responsible for ensuring that the project complies with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006
o Note that if a member of your group is the land owner or manager, they can access maps with finer detail to
indicate specific sites of cultural significance. Visit www.dpcd.vic.gov.au and click on Indigenous, then
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and go to Information for landowners or contact the VAHR as above
o Contact Rhys Collins, Regional Indigenous Facilitator at the PPWCMA for assistance.
If your project involves soil disturbance in an area of cultural heritage sensitivity, you will need to contact OAAV to
find out what to do. You should include a separate activity / item in your budget for a suitable consultant to assess
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Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
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your project and how to manage potential impacts on Indigenous cultural heritage – you can allow for up to three
days of such work (OAAV can let you know the current rate).
Print the cultural heritage sensitivity map and mark your project location. If you application is successful you will
be required to submit a copy of the map showing your project location with your signed agreement. If your project
site is in an area of Cultural Heritage Sensitivity you will need to provide evidence that you have consulted with
OAAV for works that disturb the soil.
Occupational Health and Safety
You need to make sure you have a safe system of work in place for your project to protect the health and safety of
your group, volunteers and anyone else on your project site.
Your group will be required to submit its current occupational health and safety plan to be eligible for funding
through this grant round.
You can find resources on OHS tailored to community groups on the Victorian Landcare Gateway:
http://www.landcarevic.net.au/resources/for-groups/ohs/safe_working/risk_toolkit/view
More detailed information can be found at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au
Permissions & Maps
You need to seek and document the permission of all land managers (public and private) for any on-ground works
(see application form).
All participating groups are to provide maps of project locations and activities as part of their application. There
are several ways to do this of varying complexity. In order of preference by the PPWCMA, these are by using:
•
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An electronic mapping system like ArcMap or Map Info to record the works and required detail and submit
a shapefile to the PPWCMA
DEPI Mapshare to create digital maps that are provided electronically to the PPWCMA. Detailed
instructions for Mapshare are on the PPWCMA website – Funding & Grants – Reporting requirements
Google Earth to record the works and required detail and submit .kml or .kmz files to the PPWCMA
An aerial photo with drawings showing the location and type of works submitted to the PPWCMA.
To be consistent, the following colours should be used when identifying your works:
• Green = Revegetation
• Red = Weed control
• Black (outline) = Fencing
• Yellow = Area of bushfire fuel treatment
• Blue = Pest animal control
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Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
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What will be in your funding agreement should you be successful
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Your application including all attachments (amended based on feedback if necessary)
Your agreed activities and outputs
Your reporting requirements
A clear articulation of the PPWCMA’s and your group’s responsibilities regarding liability, occupational
health and safety, cultural heritage, and future maintenance of works
Documentation of compliance with relevant legislation (Cultural Heritage Act, Native Vegetation Act, OHS
Act)
Media agreement - all materials and publicity associated with your Community Grants project must make
reference to the Dandenong Ranges Wildlife Recover, Weed Management and Fuel Reduction programme
The signature of 2 delegated representatives of your organisation accepting the project agreement.
Reporting requirements
Groups receiving a Project grant will be required to lodge a Progress and Final Report. Groups will need to report
on the achievement of agreed activities and outputs, including a map/spatial information/GPS coordinates for any
on-ground works undertaken.
The Final Report must be completed and submitted to the PPWCMA within 1 month of your project finishing and
no later than the specified date in your contract. This allows the PPWCMA to fulfil its obligations to the
Australian Government. Audits of projects may be conducted to ensure that reporting has been accurate. Groups
should return all uncommitted grant funds to the PPWCMA with their final reports unless the PPWCMA has given
written permission for the funds to be carried over.
The provision of mapped works as an electronic GIS (Geographic Information Systems) file is now mandatory.
Groups are strongly recommended to consider how they will provide this information and should cost this into their
budgets if required.
How to Apply
In line with PPWCMA’s commitment to reduce use of office consumables, organisations are encouraged to apply for
these grants using the electronic application forms. The link to the application forms are on the PPWCMA website
www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au  Funding & Grants  Federal Funding  Dandenong Ranges Wildlife Recovery, Weed
Management and Fuel Reduction Programme.
This form can be completed and submitted electronically (preferred) or printed and completed by hand.
Completed application forms can be emailed to community.grants@ppwcma.vic.gov.au.
Hand written applications and copies of relevant documents can also be mailed to:
Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
C/O Port Phillip & Westernport CMA
Lvl 1, 454-472 Nepean Hwy
Frankston, Vic 3199
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Dandenong Ranges Environmental and Bushfire Reduction Community Grants
Applicant Guidelines
Contacts
Administration enquiries: Stephen Thuan 03 8781 7921 or community.grants@ppwcma.vic.gov.au
PPWCMA Regional Indigenous Facilitator: Rhys Collins rhys.collins@ppwcma.vic.gov.au
Timeline
Grants open
February 16, 2015
(open for 8 weeks)
Grants Information Sessions
February – Date and venue TBC
March – Date and venue TBC
Grants Close
April 10, 2015
Grants Assessment
Late April 2015
Announcement of Successful Projects and EoI’s
May 2015
Contracting of Small & Medium Projects
May – June 2015
EoI’s develop full applications
May –June 2015
Project Delivery
Up to 30 June 2016 (Small Projects)
Up to 30 June 2017 (Medium Projects)
Final submission of Large Project
June 2015
Final Report and Acquittal
Assessment of Large Projects
July 2015
Contracting of Large Projects
August 2015
Project Delivery (up to 30 June 2017)
Final Report and Acquittal
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without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which
may arise from you relying on any information in this publication
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