Environmental issues

Water

Coastal, estuary and floodplain management grants

Coastal and Estuary Management Programs

The NSW Government's Coastal Management Program's primary objective is to provide support to local councils to manage the risks from coastal hazards such as coastal erosion. A secondary objective of the program is to restore degraded coastal habitats. The primary objective of the Government's Estuary Management Program is to provide support to councils to improve the health of NSW estuaries and understand the potential risks from climate change.

The support provided to councils under these programs includes technical and financial assistance to:

  • prepare (or update) coastal zone management plans and associated technical studies (including estuary health and coastal hazard assessments)
  • undertake actions to manage the risks associated with coastal hazards and to protect or improve coastal environments and estuary health.

Grant offers are subject to availability of funds for each financial year and state-wide priorities. Funding of up to 50% of a project's costs will normally be offered for successful grant applications.

Floodplain Management Program

The Floodplain Management Program supports the implementation of the NSW Government's Flood Prone Land Policy as outlined in the NSW Government's Floodplain Development Manual.

The primary objective of the policy is to both reduce the impacts of flooding and flood liability on communities as well as private and public losses resulting from floods, using ecologically positive methods wherever possible.

The government recommends local councils understand and manage their flood risk through the floodplain risk management process as outlined in the manual.

The Floodplain Management Program provides financial support to councils and eligible public land managers to:

  • make informed decisions on managing flood risk by preparing floodplain risk management plans (and associated background studies) under the floodplain risk management process
  • implement floodplain risk management plans to reduce flood risk to both existing and future development, and reduce losses through a range of property, flood and response modification measures as outlined in the manual
  • provide essential information to the State Emergency Service to enable the effective preparation and implementation of local flood plans to deal with flood emergency response.

Assistance under the program is normally offered by the State Government providing $2 for every $1 provided by local councils.

Grant applications for 2012-13

Coastal and Estuary Management Programs

Applications for grants under the 2012-13 Coastal and Estuary Management Programs are now closed.

For information about the programs, funding criteria and instructions for completing application forms, refer to the Grant Application Guidelines 2012-13. These guidelines will be updated when the next call for grant applications for 2013-14 opens.

NSW Floodplain Management Program

Applications for grants under the 2012-13 NSW Floodplain Management Program are now closed.

For information about the program and funding criteria for 2012-13, refer to the Grant Application Guidelines (20120186grantguide.pdf, 238kb).

Important changes for 2012-13

The program is moving to a project-based framework in 2012-13, with applicants able to apply for the entire funding for a stage of a project (not just an annual amount).

This new framework, similar to that of the Coastal and Estuary Management Programs, will provide greater certainty to applicants on what is being funded and reduce red tape as applications, work plans and acquittals will be for a whole stage rather than annually. It is being implemented in response to stakeholder feedback and recommendations from an independent audit and internal review of the program.

To transition to this framework, applicants are able to apply in 2012-13 for the remaining funding needed to complete the current stage of any existing project (even if funding is needed beyond 2012-13).

Applications were required to outline project progress and expenditure to date and provide evidence of an ongoing contractual commitment or an explanation of how they are inextricably linked to the current stage of the project. For example, the stage may be for a specific flood study that is continuing, with only a component of the study contracted so far.

For information about the changes for 2012-13, refer to the Proposed changes to grant administration fact sheet (120195GrantFS.pdf, 45kb)

Grants awarded in 2011-12

The Minister for the Environment, the Hon. Robyn Parker MP, approved the coastal, estuary and floodplain management grants and the Floodplain Risk Management Grants Scheme for 2011-12 on 14 September 2011.

More than $18 million in grant offers for some 258 projects was announced.

On 13 March 2012, the Minister for the Environment, the Hon. Robyn Parker MP, announced a further 16 grant offers for $891,100 under round two of the 2011-12 coastal management program.

A listing of the grant offers to councils is provided below:

Grant documentation

Coastal and Estuary Management Grants

Floodplain Management Grants

More information

Further information may be obtained by contacting the relevant office listed below. General inquiries on grants administration should be directed to coastalestuary.floodgrants@environment.nsw.gov.au or the Grants Program Coordinator on (02) 9895 7463.

North coastRichard Hagley (02) 6627 0206
Hunter/lower north coastPeter Evans(02) 4904 2594
SydneySue Ribbons(02) 9895 6267
South coastBen Addison(02) 4224 4164
North westNeal Albert(02) 6701 9624
Central/far westSiva Varathan(02) 6883 6503
Murray/MurrumbidgeePeter Nankivell(03) 5898 3934

Page last updated: 08 May 2012