Environmental Group Grant 2026

Hepburn Shire Council’s Environment Groups Grant Program supports community groups that work to enhance and protect the environment of Hepburn Shire.

Council has committed $20,000 to support local community environment groups in 2024. Potential applicants are identified by Council Officers and will be invited to apply by the Biodiversity Officer. Applicants will need to demonstrate that their group conducts on-ground environmental works or promotes/advocates for the protection and enhancement of ecological health within Hepburn Shire

The Hepburn Shire Environment Groups Grants Program provides funding annually to community groups and organisations ($20,000 in 2024).

Organisations can apply for funding to support their group’s sustainability and effectiveness. Only groups which work to protect and enhance the environment through conducting on-ground environmental works or groups that promote increased awareness of environmental issues within Hepburn shire will be invited to apply.

Funding may be directed to activities that support the group’s objectives such as:

• Publications, electronic media or administrative tasks related to environmental works and advocacy: e.g. copying, production of brochures, newsletters, mailing, website maintenance etc.
• Training of individuals and groups to carry out on-ground environmental works, e.g., first aid training, Agricultural Chemical Users Permit Course etc.
• On-ground works such as planting or assisted natural regeneration’, weed control, pest control on public land or private land Council will invite community groups to submit applications for their project.

Submissions will be assessed for their suitability by a panel consisting of Council officers.

Technical support will be provided to guide and refine the scope of potential projects, before and during the application stage.

All applicants are advised to contact Council’s Biodiversity Officer to ensure that the project meets the funding aims.

To be eligible for assessment projects must:

• Request funding to; train individuals or groups conducting on-ground environmental works, support on-ground environmental works such as planting or weeding or support the administration of on-ground environmental works.
• Be strategically/ecologically sound and identify sustainable improvements (i.e. have an identified source of follow-up resources if required)
• Be a group that conducts activities within Hepburn Shire to the benefit of its residents.
• Be an organisation that is a legal entity with an Australian Business Number (ABN). For example; an incorporated body, co-op, trust, or, be auspiced by a suitable group.*
• Have all permits, permissions and approvals for the project.**
• Be a not-for-profit***or a community group.
• Be willing to participate in public relations for the project, including a potential media release and photo with members of the applicants’ organisation and funding representatives.
• Involve community in its planning and implementation.

*An Auspicing Agent is another organisation that is a legal entity with an ABN. A letter signed by two committee members from the auspice agent confirming they will auspice the application must be provided when the grant application is submitted. Auspicing agents retaining a fee for this service will not be considered.

**If the project is to undertake works on Council owned / managed land or property, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, or Parks Victoria land, you must provide written approval from the relevant land manager.

***Your organisation meets the requirements of being a not-for-profit by having specific statements in its governing rules; the not-for profit and / or dissolution clause https://www.ato.gov.au/non-profit/getting started/is-your-organisation-not-for-profit-/

• Individual applicants, profit-making organisations and political parties
• Any group whose primary purpose is not focused on environment and ecological health.
• An activity that is the funding responsibility of the state or federal government, or can be funded by fees, sponsorship or service agreements.
• Applicants that have an outstanding Council grant acquittal or unpaid invoice from Council.
• Applications made outside the Application Stage closing date.
• Organisations based outside the Shire, unless the group conducts activities that directly benefit to Hepburn Shire residents and its environment.
• Applications completed by a third party on behalf of an applicant will not be considered.

Assessment Of Submissions

• Technical and grant writing support will be made available to applicants before and during the application stage.
• At the conclusion of the Application stage, applications are reviewed to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria. Those not meeting the criteria will be notified and will not progress to assessment.
• Eligible applications will be assessed by a panel consisting of Council Officers against the Assessment criteria.
• Applications are ranked by overall average score, with funding allocated to the highest scoring applications until the funding pool or pool of suitable applicants is exhausted.

All Council Grant Programs are assessed against the following Assessment Criteria.

• Addresses an evidence-based community need or opportunity.
• Demonstrates alignment with the Hepburn Shire Council Plan and the relevant strategy (Sustainable Hepburn Strategy 2022-2026.)
• Demonstrates a clear benefit to Hepburn Shire Council residents.
• Demonstrates a clear ability to carry out and undertake the project/activity/event through to completion.
• Provides supporting documentation including quotations.
• Demonstrates no ethical or other conflict of interest.

The Environment Groups Grants Program aligns with the principles and objectives outlined in the Council Plan and Vision 2022 and is an action under the objective: ‘to prioritise protection of existing biodiversity and habitat on both Council controlled and private land’ in the Sustainable Hepburn Strategy 2022-26.