Aboriginal lands clean-up program
The NSW Government is committed to reducing the incidents of illegal dumping across NSW whilst working together with Aboriginal communities to improve the health, education and social outcomes for Aboriginal people. To date, $1.52 million has been awarded to local Aboriginal land councils across NSW, in partnership with their respective local council, 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
implement measures to deter future 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.
Process
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 and partnering with the local council. Expression of interest applications are assessed by an independent technical committee and shortlisted project partners are then invited to submit a full application. The approved projects are then funded by 30 June, to be implemented in the next financial year.
Funding for 2013
Total funds being offered under the Aboriginal lands clean-up program in 2013 is $200,000 with applications for individual projects being up to $50,000.
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 to partner with them 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 have been invited to submit a more detailed stage 2 project application. These workshops aim to assist in facilitating the development of quality project applications.
For further information about the program, please contact the Local government section of the Environment Protection Authority 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 2012
In round seven of the Aboriginal lands clean-up program, five projects received $220,166 in funding under the Aboriginal lands clean-up program in 2012. Funded project are outlined below:
Aboriginal lands clean-up program
Grants 2012 |
|---|
| Local Aboriginal land council | Partnering local council | Project title | Amount $ |
|---|
| Armidale local Aboriginal land council | Uralla shire council | Old Kentucky landfill clean up | $24,681 |
| Dareton local Aboriginal land council | Wentworth shire council | Clean up and deterrence of illegal dumping at Namatjira Avenue | $50,000 |
| Darkinjung localAboriginal land council | Wyong shire council | Darkinjung LALC - Illegal dumping clean up 2012 | $50,000 |
| Deerubbin local Aboriginal land council | Penrith city council | DLALC -Llandilo clean up project - Stage II | $49,865 |
| Tweed Byron local Aboriginal land council | Tweed shire council | Tweed Byron LALC land clean up project at Letitia Spit | $45,620 |
| Total | | 5 projects | $220,166 |
Previous funding rounds
2011
Five Projects received $1,77,261 in funding under round six of the ALCUP program 2011. ALCUP projects completed in 2011 cleaned up a total of 875 tonnes of illegally dumped waste. Out of the total, 242 tonnes was reused, 413 tonnes was recycled and the remaining safely disposed in a landfill. Strong ongoing partnerships eventuated and relationships strengthened between project partners. Educational programs and competitions were conducted in schools, capacity building training programs and on ground work experience were the major outcomes of the 2011 program.
2010
Eight projects received more than $386,000 in funding under round five of 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.
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 and 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 and 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 and 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.
Page last updated: 22 February 2013
