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, $740,000 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 2010

Total funds being offered under the Aboriginal lands clean-up program in 2010: $200,000 will be available for ALCUP projects. Grants up to $50,000 will be available.

The Aboriginal lands clean-up program will be a two-stage application process. The first stage will be 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 Aborignal 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 local Aboriginal land councils and their project partners whose Expressions of Interest have been successful and have subsequently been invited to submit a more detailed project application. These workshops aim to facilitate the development of a quality project application.

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 2009

The Aboriginal Lands Clean-Up Program was a two stage application process in 2009. The first stage being Expression of Interest 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 were invited to submit a full application. Six local Aboriginal land councils received $240,000 under the Aboriginal Lands Clean-Up Program in 2009.

Previous funding rounds

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. These four projects are currently underway and this page will be updated upon completion of the projects.

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 the Department of Environment and Climate Change) 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.