Aboriginal Lands Clean-Up Program

The NSW Government is committed to reducing the incidence of illegal dumping across NSW whilst working together with Aboriginal communities to improve the health, education and social outcomes for Aboriginal people. To date, $1,304,000 has been awarded to Local Aboriginal Land Councils in partnership with their respective local council across NSW, under the Clean-Up and deterrence of illegal dumping on Aboriginal owned lands grants, commonly referred to as the Aboriginal Lands Clean-Up Program (ALCUP).

Aim of the program

The aim of the program is to facilitate a partnership project which allows Local Aboriginal Land Councils and local government councils to develop and progress co-operative ongoing relationships through a collaborative project to address the social and environmental issues of illegal dumping occurring on Aboriginal owned lands.

Objectives

The objectives of the Aboriginal Lands Clean-Up Program are:

• Clean-up of illegally dumped materials on Aboriginal owned lands
• Deterrence of illegal dumping across the project area
• Maximise recycling and resource recovery from the illegally dumped materials
• Foster relationships between Aboriginal communities, local and state government and community groups.

Funding for 2012

Total funds being offered under the Aboriginal lands clean-up program in 2012: $200,000 is available for ALCUP projects. Grants of up to $50,000 are available for individual projects.

The Aboriginal lands clean up program is a two stage application process. The first stage is an Expression of Interest to be completed by interested Local Aboriginal Land Councils. Following the assessment of these Expressions of Interest and depending on the quality of submissions, Local Aboriginal Land Councils will then be invited to submit a full application.

Eligibility

Any NSW local Aboriginal land council can apply for funding under the Clean-Up and deterrence on Aboriginal owned lands grants program so long as:

• The Local Aboriginal Land Council undertakes to negotiate with their appropriate local council partner in the program and become the project administrator on behalf of the Local Aboriginal Land Council (as the grantee).

Guidelines and Application Forms

Workshops

A series of workshops will be held for those Local Aboriginal Land Councils and their project partners who are invited to submit a more detailed stage 2 project application. These workshops aim to assist in facilitating the development of quality project applications.

Should more information about the program be required, please contact the Local Government Section of the Sustainability Programs Division on (02) 8837 6000 or mail to: sustainability@environment.nsw.gov.au

Supporting information

The Illegal Dumping - Prevention and Clean-Up, Handbook for Aboriginal Communities resource provides information on the consequences of illegal dumping, steps to a successful prevention and clean-up project, as well as providing examples of successful case studies.

The Crackdown on Illegal Dumping Handbook for Local Government is a resource developed for local councils to tackle the issue of illegal dumping. This tool is a valuable resource for Local Aboriginal Land Councils and their partnering local council.

Grants awarded in 2011

The Aboriginal Lands Clean-Up Program was a two-stage application process in 2011. Five projects received more than $177,000 in funding under the Aboriginal Lands Clean-Up Program in 2011. Funded projects are outlined below.

Previous funding rounds

2010

Eight projects received more than $386,000 in funding under the Aboriginal Lands Clean-Up Program in 2010. Project partners worked with communities to clean up illegal dumping, resulting in the reuse of 13 tonnes, recycling of 144 tonnes, and disposal of 77 tonnes of illegally dumped materials. Projects strengthened partnerships between Local Aboriginal Land Councils, local government and local Aboriginal communities. Community groups and school students were engaged through planning and decision making, training and employment, educational workshops, community clean up days and project celebrations. Through engaging with community members, project partners were able to instil an improved sense of community pride in country and improved confidence to achieve.

2009

Six Local Aboriginal Lands Councils and Local Council partners received $240,172 under Round 4 of the Aboriginal Lands Clean-Up Program in 2009. Clean up projects completed in 2009/10 resulted in the reuse of 456 tonnes, recycling of 325 tonnes, and appropriate disposal of 196 tonnes of illegally dumped waste. Grant recipients have identified many additional positive outcomes including, strengthened relationships between Aboriginal communities and local governments, increased community pride, and safer communities.

2008

Round 3 of the Aboriginal Lands Clean-Up Program built on the success of the previous two pilot funding rounds and provided a more comprehensive approach to the grants process through the improvement of the application and reporting process. Funding of $200,000 was provided to four Local Aboriginal Land Councils & Local Council partnerships, each totalling $50,000.

2007

Round 2 (Pilot) of the Aboriginal Lands Clean-up Program was used to further develop the program, recognising the inherent need for Aboriginal communities to manage their own community and land services whilst also bridging the gap between Aboriginal communities, and all levels of government. Funding of $100,000 was provided to two local Aboriginal Land Councils & Local Council partnerships, each totalling $50,000.

2006

Round 1 (Pilot): In 2003, the then Department of Environment and Conservation (now Office of Environment and Heritage) identified a number of detrimental issues that have a negative impact on the Aboriginal communities throughout the state of NSW. Inherent to all of these Aboriginal communities are the issue of illegal dumping and waste, and the impact of this on human health, the environment and Aboriginal culture. In 2006, funding of $200,000 was provided to four Local Aboriginal Land Councils & Local Council partnerships, each totalling $50,000. These pilot projects were an enormous success with illegally dumped waste removed from a number of project sites. These projects also saw the implementation of: deterrence measures to limit the potential for future illegal dumping episodes; the incorporation of correct recycling, resource recovery and disposal options, and the building of relationships between Aboriginal communities, the wider community and between local and state government.