Climate Action Grants
Round 1
Round 2
Round 1
Parramatta City Council
S-M-Ar-T Transport Options for Parramatta
Grant: $222,000
S-M-Ar-T (Sustainable Movement Around Town) aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting the "smarter" movement of people to and within Parramatta. It will encourage the use of public and active transport to reduce car trips around Parramatta. The program is made up of the following initiatives:
- an assessment of the major barriers to people using S-M-Ar-T forms of transport
- a marketing campaign about the use of S-M-Ar-T transport options, including the free shuttle bus service within Parramatta
- development of S-M-Ar-T Employer - working with major employers representing over 9,000 employees to promote S-M-Ar-T transport options in Parramatta
- introduction of GoGet S-M-Ar-T, the first car sharing trial in Western Sydney.
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Sydney Coastal Councils Group Inc
Quantifying the Value of Sydney Beaches
Grant: $71,000
This project will calculate the total economic value of selected beaches in the Sydney metropolitan region using innovative new methods of valuation. This project will not only assist in tracking changes in value, but also help the State and local governments make more informed decisions on how to protect 'at threat' coastal property, infrastructure, beach environments and amenity as a result of inevitable and immediate coastal erosion risk.
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St George Region of Councils
Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST)
Grant: $136,500
This project is an environmental assessment and retrofit program for 90 small businesses.
Participating businesses will receive an environmental assessment and detailed report highlighting the potential for reducing energy and water consumption, as well as ways to reduce their waste. Eco-friendly products will be retrofitted if the participating business commits to undertaking one recommendation from the assessment, participates in workshops, and monitor savings.
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Coffs Harbour City Council
Five a Ride
Grant: $58,000
This project aims to encourage people to cycle if they live within a 10 kilometre radius of the Coffs Harbour City Centre. The funding will enable:
- provision of bicycle racks and signage at key venues such as the beach, shopping centres, and City Council offices
- promotion of the bicycle racks, cycleways, and the idea that short bicycle rides are beneficial for the community (less greenhouse gas emissions) and the riders (healthier lifestyle)
- a bicycle recycling trial - unwanted bicycles will be picked up, a workshop established to repair them and then sold at a nominal price to targeted groups within the community
- development of a training package to encourage people to improve their bicycle riding skills.
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Hunter Councils Inc
Understanding and Adapting to the Effects of Climate Change
Grant: $250,000
A series of community workshops will be held to inform and promote discussion about the potential effects of climate change on industry and community land uses, activities and lifestyle in the Hunter Central Rivers Region. The workshops will include information about the local impacts of climate change on agriculture, tourism, human settlements, infrastructure and water resources.
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Bankstown City Council
'Kool Kids' - Keeping the Greenhouse Down!
Grant: $28,000
'Kool Kids' is an environmental education program for about 1,500 Year 5/6 school students in Bankstown. The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through adoption of specific technologies, processes and practices and to encourage behavioural change within the community. A number of fun and intercative workshops on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from everyday activities will be held and each student receiving a compact florescent light bulb. To promote parent participation, adults attending the workshops will receive six compact florescent light bulbs and a smart showerhead.
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Ballina Shire Council
"What Does It Cost?"
Grant: $153,000
Subtitled "What the environment pays for you to get where you're going", this project aims to reduce transport related greenhouse gas emissions in Ballina Shire. Emissions calculations will be undertaken with Council staff and school classes across the Shire and tree plantings to offset these greenhouse gas emissions will be used to highlight the impact of transport on the atmosphere. Walking, cycling, carpooling and public transport will be encouraged as alternative means of transport through the production of walking maps and preferential parking for car-poolers.
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Canterbury City Council
Kilowatt Kutters
Grant: $17,000
The Kilowatt Kutters project involves the recruitment of 12 volunteer households each year for three years. Households will be assessed using the NABERS software (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) and given an environmental rating. Participants will be given a free Education Kit, along with the installation of energy and water savings products and an environmental audit. The assessment is repeated after a year to quantify the energy and water savings and recalculate the household's NABERS rating.
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Total Environment Centre Inc
Climate Action Workshops and Adoption of Emission Reduction Programs
Grant: $138,000
In partnership with industry associations, TEC will host a series of five high profile 'Climate action workshops' to build awareness of climate change and develop business capacity and commitment to respond to the impacts of climate change.
The initial target sectors are transport, finance and investment, waste management and commercial property. Building on the success of TEC's Green Capital program, TEC will collaborate with industry leaders to identify innovative ways to engage each sector, analyse sector specific impacts, risks and opportunities, undertake workshops to develop 'climate action' guidelines, develop sector specific outreach programs and provide recognition through best practice awards.
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Climate Change Australia (Clarence Branch)
Ecological Footprint Display
Grant: $11,000
This project will produce a hands-on interactive display for use as an ecological footprint calculator in the Clarence valley area. The display will be used at street stalls, markets and community events to help educate the community about the impact of their personal choices on greenhouse gas emissions. Three levels will be produced targetting children (for use at schools), at households (for use at markets) and businesses.
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University of NSW - School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
Photovoltaic 'Focus Module' for preliminary Engineering Studies curriculum
Grant: $32,000
The project will develop a Focus Module in the Engineering Studies Program and trial it at Kirrawee High School as a school-based elective module. The Focus Module will be developed under the guidance of photovoltaic experts at the world renowned School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, UNSW, and an experienced teacher of Engineering Studies at Kirrawee High School. The Focus Module will raise awareness of one leading technology to combat greenhouse gas generation and encourage students to further study of this technologically exciting area. The Focus Module will be one of five modules that each student completes in Engineering Studies.
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NSW Department of Primary Industries
Increasing NSW farmers' and rural communities preparedness for Climate Change
Grant: $75,000
This project will deliver 10 regional forums in partnership with Catchment Management Authorities, landcare and local government, to help farmers and rural communities:
- understand current climate change predictions
- identify the constraints their farming systems and communities may face
- identify possible adaptation strategies for their industries and region
- identify the information and training needed to develop and implement those adaptation strategies.
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The Nature Conservation Council of NSW
Let's Cool It!
Grant: $236,000
This project will seek to achieve ongoing, significant and measurable household greenhouse gas reductions in NSW. The NCC will work with local councils, businesses, community groups and individuals to educate and promote ways in which people can become more energy efficient and take up programs and products that help reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Through interactive forums and workshops, web support and media programs, NCC plans to empower communities to take a greenhouse challenge and work together to reduce greenhouse pollution and avoid dangerous climate change.
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NSW Department of Environment and Conservation
Climate Action - Wildlife habitats and corridors community conservation project
Grant: $250,000
The direct and indirect impacts of climate change threaten the survival of species and ecosystems. The project aims to build greater connectivity and buffering of protected areas by increasing the amount of private and other public lands as formal protected areas in priority wildlife habitats and corridors.
The conservation management, habitat restoration, rehabilitation and revegetation required in developing these strategic corridors will make a significant contribution to carbon sequestration. Community involvement, including helping the community to understand and appreciate greenhouse and climate change issues is an important part of the project. This includes promoting practical local actions that can make a difference to the long term survival of Australia's unique wildlife and to the immediate global effort.
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NSW Department of Primary Industries
Developing Elite Trees for Economically Viable Forest Plantations in Low Rainfall Sites
Grant: $346,250
The project aims to develop elite germplasm (seed and clones) of alternative species of Eucalypt that have the potential to produce economically viable forests plantations in low rainfall areas (such as the Hunter Valley, South West Slopes and North West Slope and Plains) that have historically been marginal forestry sites. Selection of the elite germplasm will be based on growth, density and their ability to sequestrate carbon. The project will develop a better understanding of genetic control of growth, density and carbon fraction in alternative Eucalypt species.
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NSW Department of Primary Industries
Increasing soil carbon sequestration of agricultural soils by better managing pastures
Grant: $246,250
Using soil carbon data from two long-term field experiments and sites in central and southern NSW, this project aims to quantify the potential for soil carbon sequestration. Pastures are important components of farming systems in NSW, providing diversity, maintaining soil fertility and with perennial pastures, reducing dryland salinity risks. However, little information is available on the soil carbon sequestration potential of pastures in NSW farming systems. The data obtained from this project will be used to identify the optimal management practices to maximise soil carbon sequestration under different farming systems, soil types and climatic conditions using modelling.
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NSW Department of Primary Industries
The Greenhouse Footprint of Wood Products in NSW
Grant: $440,000
Wood products can significantly extend the greenhouse gas mitigation benefits provided by forests. The proper management of wood products is essential to optimise the use of the land devoted to commercial forests. The greenhouse impact of wood products is measured to a large extent by the energy required in its extraction, manufacture and use and by its disposal strategies. This project will deliver an energy budget for wood products used for building in NSW and determine the greenhouse impact of waste disposal options. The results will inform energy rating systems, waste disposal strategies and carbon sequestration schemes in NSW.
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NSW Department of Primary Industries
Carbon Sequestration under summer/winter response cropping in NW NSW
Grant: $236,000
This project will determine the potential for modified cropping practices to sequester soil carbon in Vertosols of actual and potential cropping country in north west NSW.
Agriculture contributes significantly to NSW's net greenhouse gas emissions. Change in land management practices to capture and conserve more carbon will potentially lead to reductions in net emissions. US and European claims that modified tillage practices will add significantly to soil carbon have not been demonstrated in Australia. However, zero tillage 'response cropping' with both summer and winter cropping has been shown in previous DPI studies to increase biomass production with a concomitant increase in soil carbon. Further, the quantities of diesel fuel required for zero tillage are about 20% of that used in conventional cropping.
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NSW Department of Primary Industries
Development of a Climate Change Adaptation Risk Assessment Tool in a GIS Framework
Grant: $514,000
This project will develop a GIS (Graphical Information Systems) based risk assessment tool to utilise generic outputs from Global Climate Models (GCMs) and apply them to assess specific responses required by each of the major agriculture sectors in NSW (irrigation, broad-acre cropping, grazing, intensive industries and horticulture) to adapt to, and capitalise on the opportunities presented by climate change and increased climate variability. The funds will allow development of the GIS infrastructure, risk assessment tool and associated databases. Wheat cropping will be used as the case study to demonstrate the use of the tool.
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Round 2
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems
A participatory approach to developing climate change adaptation options for NSW farming systems
Grant: $385,857
Early studies have shown that Australian farming systems are highly vulnerable to the likely climate changes over the next decades. This project will explore ways to increase the resilience of NSW cropping systems. Unlike many similar studies, the project recognises the knowledge and experience of local farmers. Working together, farmers and scientists will identify vulnerabilities and feasible adaptations. The project will produce a report equipping farmers to plan for a more sustainable future.
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Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (LCMA)
Improving methods to reliably estimate carbon sequestration by environmental plantings
Grant: $421,121
By how much will planting new vegetation reduce the carbon levels in the atmosphere? Techniques are needed to measure the quantity of carbon sequestered as a result of environmental plantings. This project will produce tools to measure and assign a financial value to the carbon sequestered. This will in turn encourage market forces to play a role in driving new planting activities, and thereby reduce the NSW greenhouse gas footprint. The project will deliver a 'stand alone' tool useful not only for other Catchment Management Authorities but a large cross-section of organisations.
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Kogarah Municipal Council
Collection of food waste in multi unit dwellings
Grant: $54,600
Food waste currently makes up approximately 48% of total domestic waste, a significant source of harmful greenhouse gases. This project will implement a system for residents of multi unit dwellings to recycle their food scraps without having to leave their kitchen!
The project will use new technology to convert food waste to produce renewable energy and fertiliser, to date this type of program has only been available to commercial and industrial kitchens.
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Biomass Energy Services and Technology Pty Ltd
Black carbon's role in terrestrial carbon sequestration and agricultural Greenhouse Gas mitigation
Grant: $275,000
It is well established that black carbon provides a long term sink for carbon in terrestrial ecosystems. This project aims to investigate the scientific basis for this process. In understanding why this process takes place we will be in a better position to develop products and technologies that result in significant greenhouse gas reduction in agriculture and regional industry in Australia.
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NSW Department of Primary Industries
The Role of Recycled Organics in Long Term Soil Carbon Pools and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Grant: $98,991
It is known that a loss of organic soil matter is associated with widespread land degradation. This in turn results in declining plant productivity and increased greenhouse gas emissions. How do soil organic carbon fractions increase plant productivity? This project seeks to understand these changes.
As a result of this investigation it is hoped that it will be possible to determine the long term role that recycled organics have in the mitigation or sequestration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Armed with this information, the project will look to maximising the role of recycled organics in long term enhancement of soil carbon.
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University of New England, Australian Centre for Agriculture and Law
Developing technologies and policy framework for the next generation biofuels production systems in Australia
Grant: $440,000
This project will investigate and deliver tools for the implementation of a regional biofuels industry.
Biofuels production is an emerging opportunity for significant greenhouse gas reductions in both general transport and in agriculture. Crops such as maize, wheat, sugar cane and canola are currently widely utilised for the production of biofuels.
However there are severe limitations to these crops, highlighted by the current drought. A significant role of this project will be to draw on the latest research to develop the bioconversion viability of materials like crop residues, forestry wastes and woody weeds.
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University of Western Sydney
Trade off between carbon sequestration in forests and water yields under rising CO2
Grant: $484,417
As climate change becomes a reality, there is growing competition for scarce water supplies. It can't be overlooked that forest plantations could further reduce these supplies, using more water than the vegetation they replace. This project will use the Hawkesbury Forest Experiment, a field-based carbon dioxide enrichment facility, to confirm that rising atmospheric carbon dioxide offsets water use by forests under Australian conditions. This project will determine if planting forests should be a priority greenhouse gas abatement measure.
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University of Sydney
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation from Coal Mine Ventilation Systems
Grant: $417,612
One of the key challenges facing the Australian Coal Industry is its need to improve the sustainability of operations and products.
Research has identified that the greatest gains can be made using the methane found in mine ventilation systems. By converting this methane into carbon dioxide it would possible to achieve an immediate reduction of 87% in global warming potential from emissions produced by the operations of NSW coal mines.
The University of Sydney will apply this finding, and use specifically developed technology, to mitigate greenhouse gases at the Hunter Valley coal mine.
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Page last updated: 27 February 2011
