Urban Sustainability Program
Aim of the program
The Urban Sustainability Program aims to facilitate projects of significant environmental benefit to NSW, delivered by local government organisations in partnership with other government agencies, local businesses, community organisations and householders. Through these projects, the Program also aims to improve the capacity of communities and organisations to protect, restore and enhance the sustainability of our urban environment.
Objectives
The objectives of the Program are to:
- Improve urban water management with particular focus on stormwater and urban runoff to achieve sustainable water quality and conservation outcomes.
- Improve resource conservation through effective waste management, avoidance, reuse, recycling and support for sustainable products and services.
- Improve and protect urban bushland and creeks, urban wildlife and habitats of rare and endangered flora and fauna
- Improve the quality of the local urban environment, through integrated approaches that address a combination of the following examples: air quality, noise, odour, chemical use, biodiversity, litter and dumping.
- Improve the sustainability performance of local councils, small businesses and community organisations and householders in urban areas.
The program to date
Grants awarded in 2008
The Trust received a total of 67 applications for both Major Projects and Urban Waterways Initiative Streams, requesting funding totalling over $74 million. The Trust approved 24 projects involving 69 councils totalling over $29 million. A list of successful projects is available on the 2008 Urban Sustainability Major Projects page, and 2008 Urban Sustainability Waterways page.
2007
Round 2 (2007) of the Urban Sustainability Program saw the introduction of a two-stage application process (Expression of Interest (EOI) and invited detailed application) and the additional Urban Waterways Initiative funding stream.
A total of 83 EOIs were received for both Major Projects and Urban Waterways Initiative streams. Of these, 29 applications were submitted for consideration.
The Trust approved 15 projects involving 54 councils totalling over $15 million, and 5 sustainability plans involving 5 councils totalling $100,000.
2006
In 2006, competition for funds was high, with 122 of the 128 NSW local councils eligible for the Program involved in the proposed projects. In the 2006 funding round, 115 applications were submitted by local councils and local government organisations.
The Trust approved 28 major projects totalling over $29 million involving 65 councils, and 23 sustainability plans totalling $600,000 involving 32 councils. In May 2007 the Trust approved an additional 7 reserve projects totalling $3.8 million.
Funding for 2008
A total of up to $30 million was available under the Program in this round of funding. Projects may be funded until 2010/2011. This round was the last available for projects of 3 years duration.
Funding was available under two grant streams:
- Urban Sustainability Major Projects- which provides grant funding for urban sustainability projects implemented in partnership with other government agencies, local businesses, community groups and householders.
- Urban Waterways Initiative - which provides grant funding for projects addressing sustainability challenges within urban waterways. Priority catchments include Cooks, Georges, Hawkesbury-Nepean, Central Coast / Lower Hunter and Sydney Harbour.
Note: Only councils (as defined in the Local Government Act), regional organisations of councils and other local government controlled organisations proposing an urban sustainability project for a significant urban area with a population of 10,000 or more are eligible to apply for funding. It is expected that councils will actively engage other government agencies, local businesses, community organisations and householders in the design and development of projects funded under this Program.
There was not a seed funding round of the Urban Sustainability Program in 2008/2009.
There will be no further call for applications under the Urban Sustainability Program (Major Projects and Urban Waterways). There will be a call for applications Sustainability Planning (Seed Funding) in 2009.
Should more general information on the Program be required, please contact the Environmental Trust on (02) 8837 6019.
Environmental Trust
PO Box 644, PARRAMATTA 2124
Phone: (02) 8837 6019
Email: info@environmentaltrust.nsw.gov.au