Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation

Grants of up to $200,000 for projects that achieve long-term outcomes for the NSW environment.

Grants under the 2022–23 round have now been announced.

The program will reopen in 2024 following an independent evaluation.

Purpose

The Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation program funds projects that contribute to the ongoing sustainable management and stewardship of significant environmental assets and services in New South Wales.

The objectives of the program are to:

  • improve and protect the quality of ecosystems and environmental assets managed by community groups, land managers and stakeholders
  • enhance the management of environmental assets by facilitating the development of environmental expertise and stronger partnerships between individuals, community groups, governments and industry
  • provide an appropriate, effective, and sustainable mechanism to deliver government policy, priorities and outcomes.

Who can apply?

Eligible organisations include:

  • community groups and organisations
  • incorporated associations
  • not-for-profit organisations
  • non-commercial cooperatives
  • local councils
  • state government agencies and entities.

Priority themes

Since 2020, the Trust has been implementing its Strategic Plan 2020–24.

Applications to the 2022–23 round were required to address, at a practical level, at least one of the following immediate funding priorities:

  • supporting threatened species recovery
  • addressing climate change impacts on the natural environment – both mitigation and adaptation.

Funding available

Two funding streams were available for Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation projects in 2022–23.

Funding stream Total annual allocation for the 2022–23 round Funding amount per project Project timeframe
Stream 1 – New organisations $1,000,000 From $50,000 to $125,000 2–3 years
Stream 2 – Experienced organisations $3,000,000 From $125,000 to $200,000 3–4 years

If your group or organisation is awarded a grant, you will need to be aware of the following:

Milestone reports and final report

You will need to submit a Milestone Report (formerly progress report) after each stage of works that aligns with your approved Workplan. These will outline what you have achieved and what you will do next.

Milestone reports are reviewed by technical experts who can ensure you are on the right track and give you feedback or advice. After reviewing and accepting your report, we will pay your next grant instalment.

When your project finishes, you will have to submit a final report describing its achievements.

Trust Administration will direct you on how to prepare your Milestone report in the Trust's Grant Management System closer to the time of reporting.

Financial reports

You must submit an updated and authorised financial report with all your progress reports. You also need to submit a certified financial report as a part of your final project report.

If you need to rearrange your project’s budget, you should apply for a budget variation.

Trust Administration will direct you how to prepare your financial report in the Trust's Grant Management System closer to the time of reporting.

Other documents

You may also have to submit some other documents or evidence. These will be listed in the grant agreement we send you.

Where to send reports

For projects outside the Trust's online Grant Management System (prior to 2019), reports and other documents should be emailed to info@environmentaltrust.nsw.gov.au (50MB limit).

For successful projects submitted through the Grant Management System, all aspects of planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting (including expenditure) and variations will be managed through this online system.

Instructions for using the Grants Management System are available through:

Acknowledgement requirement

Please acknowledge the funding you have received from the Trust in all publications and materials related to your project. We ask that you say:

This project has been assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust.

See Funding acknowledgement for more information.

All of the Trust's contestable grants programs are independently evaluated to assess their effectiveness.

The Restoration and Rehabilitation (R&R) program was the focus of an independent evaluation completed in June 2017.

The evaluation was undertaken by Natural Resources Commission who have extensive experience in evaluating government initiatives across a variety of sectors. The evaluation focussed on the delivery of the program, and projects funded by it, between 2010 and 2015.

The evaluation final report (and its recommendations) was considered and accepted by the Trust in November 2017. An Administrative Response was also developed to address the issues raised in the evaluation. The Evaluation Report concluded that overall the R&R program is well-run, however, suggested a range of recommendations relating to:

  • program design
  • governance and administration
  • application process and selection of projects
  • communication
  • monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

These reports have been made available through the links below.

The R&R program will undergo its next independent evaluation during 2023 and is expected to reopen for applications in early to mid-2024.