Illegal dumping and flood waste recovery program
This program aims to resolve remaining waste issues after the initial emergency clean-up phase that are not eligible for other government funding sources.
This program will support public land managers in the assessment and clean-up of remaining waste, including illegal dumping and restoration and replacement of illegal dumping deterrence measures, caused by flooding and severe weather in 2022. It will encourage reuse and recycling of waste where possible.
The program is part of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Experience with managing natural disasters on public land demonstrates that ongoing waste issues remain after the initial clean-up of flood events, such as illegally dumped waste, flood related litter and bulky waste. Old dumping sites can be exposed after floods and become more accessible to the community. There is also a reported rise in new illegal dump sites, particularly in areas that become accessible after natural disasters.
Objectives
The objectives of the program are to:
- lawfully manage known ongoing waste issues facing public land managers, including illegal dumping, resulting from the 2022 floods and ensure they do not pose any further risks to humans or the environment.
- reduce the financial impact on public land managers to assess and plan the clean-up, disposal and reuse of waste resulting from the 2022 floods.
- improve data quality on the extent of flood dumping across NSW caused by the 2022 floods. This will provide important baseline evidence of the lingering impact of the floods.
- better prepare public land managers to deter future disaster dumping by supporting the restoration and repair of prevention and deterrence measures.
- provide regional employment opportunities in flood affected areas.
- provide participation opportunities for aboriginal owned businesses and/or aboriginal employment
Eligibility
The program will be offered to all public land managers, including local councils (as well as regional organisations) and State agencies in Local Government Areas (LGA) that have been declared natural disaster zones in the 2022 floods. For the 2022 floods these eligible numbers are AGRN 1012, 1025, 1030 and 1034.
No funding cap is being placed on each application due to the discrepancies between the size, complexity, and location of each potential waste issue. However, projects must be a minimum amount of $50,000.
Funding is only able to be provided where the works are within the AGRN declared LGA areas. Works with an address outside the LGA boundaries will not be eligible for funding.
Local Government Areas Listed under AGRN 1012, 1025, 1030 and 1034 (as at 29/12/2022).
AGRN 1012
- Armidale
- Ballina
- Bayside
- Bega
- Bellingen
- Blacktown
- Blue Mountains
- Byron
- Camden
- Campbelltown
- Canterbury
- Bankstown
- Central Coast Cessnock
- Clarence Valley
- Coffs Harbour
- Cumberland
- Dungog
- Eurobodalla
- Fairfield
- Georges River
- Glen Innes Severn
- Goulburn Mulwaree
- Hawkesbury
- Hornsby
- Inner West
- Kempsey
- Kiama
- Ku-Ring-Gai
- Kyogle
- Lake Macquarie
- Lismore
- Lithgow
- Liverpool
- Maitland
- MidCoast
- Mid-Western
- Muswellbrook
- Nambucca
- Newcastle
- Northern Beaches
- Parramatta
- Penrith
- Port Macquarie/Hastings
- Port Stephens
- Queanbeyan Palerang
- Richmond Valley
- Ryde
- Shellharbour
- Shoalhaven
- Singleton
- Snowy Monaro
- Strathfield
- Sutherland
- Tenterfield
- The Hills
- Tweed
- Upper Hunter
- Waverley
- Wingecarribee
- Willoughby
- Wollondilly
- Wollongong
AGRN 1025
- Bayside
- Blacktown
- Blue Mountains
- Bogan
- Bourke
- Brewarrina
- Cabonne
- Camden
- Campbelltown
- Canterbury Bankstown
- Central Coast
- Cessnock
- Cowra
- Cumberland
- Dubbo
- Dungog
- Fairfield
- Georges River
- Hawkesbury
- Hornsby
- Kempsey
- Kiama
- Lake Macquarie
- Lithgow
- Liverpool
- Maitland
- Mid Coast
- Muswellbrook
- Nambucca
- Narromine
- Newcastle
- Northern Beaches
- Oberon
- Penrith
- Port Macquarie Hastings
- Parkes
- Parramatta
- Port Stephens
- Randwick
- Shellharbour
- Shoalhaven
- Singleton
- Strathfield
- Sutherland
- The Hills
- Upper Lachlan
- Walgett
- Warren
- Wingecarribee
- Wollondilly
- Wollongong
AGRN 1030
- Albury
- Bland
- Cabonne
- Carrathool
- Cootamundra-Gundagai
- Dubbo
- Forbes
- Gilgandra
- Goulburn Mulwaree
- Griffith
- Gunnedah
- Hilltop
- Junee
- Leeton
- Liverpool Plains
- Moree Plains
- Murrumbidgee
- Narrandera
- Narromine
- Queanbeyan-Palerang
- Snowy Monaro
- Snowy Valleys
- Temora
- Wagga Wagga
- Warren
- Warrumbungle
- Weddin
- Yass Valley
AGRN 1034
- Albury
- Balranald
- Bathurst
- Bega Valley
- Berrigan
- Bland
- Blayney
- Bogan
- Bourke
- Brewarrina
- Cabonne
- Carrathool
- Central Coast
- Central Darling
- Cobar
- Coolamon
- Coonamble
- Cootamundra-Gundagai
- Cowra
- Dubbo
- Edward River
- Eurobodalla
- Federation
- Forbes
- Gilgandra
- Glen Innes Severn
- Goulburn Mulwaree
- Greater Hume
- Griffith
- Gunnedah
- Gwydir
- Hawkesbury
- Hay
- Hilltops
- Inverell
- Junee
- Lachlan
- Leeton
- Kyogle
- Lismore
- Lithgow
- Liverpool Plains
- Lockhart
- Moree Plains
- Mid-Western
- Murray River
- Murrumbidgee
- Muswellbrook
- Nambucca Valley
- Narrabri
- Narrandera
- Narromine
- Oberon
- Orange
- Parkes
- Queanbeyan-Palerang
- Richmond Valley
- Shellharbour
- Shoalhaven
- Snowy Monaro
- Snowy Valleys
- Tamworth
- Temora
- Unincorporated Area
- Upper Hunter
- Upper Lachlan
- Uralla
- Wagga Wagga
- Walcha
- Walgett
- Warren
- Warrumbungle
- Weddin
- Wentworth
- Wingecarribee
- Yass Valley
How to apply
Applications will be via SmartyGrants. Application forms will be based on the assessment criteria outlined in this guideline below.
Please read the frequently asked questions below before applying.
If you have any questions, please contact the Recovery and Resilience Programs Team at RecoveryandResiliencePrograms@epa.nsw.gov.au.
Closing date for submission of applications is 5.00pm on Wednesday 19 April 2023.
|
1 |
Project needs Detailed description of illegal dumping and flood waste issue facing public land managers and include any available supporting evidence. |
40% |
|
2 |
Project activities The intended project activities, including: A detailed description of how you propose to manage the ongoing waste issues such as collection, clean up, reuse, and processing and/or A description of the prevention measures proposed for repair or restoration, and evidence of damage |
20% |
|
3 |
Timeline A detailed timeline for completing the project by April 2024 or April 2025 (depending on AGRN), including clean-up, disposal and implementation of prevention and deterrence measure/s. |
10% |
|
4 |
Project budget This must include a well-planned and cost-effective project budget including a comprehensive cost breakdown with all relevant quotes as well as any contingency funding identified. |
20% |
|
5 |
Regional and Aboriginal participation The project offers regional employment and Aboriginal participation opportunities in flood affected communities |
10% |
Applications will be assessed against the assessment criteria above by a technical review committee established by the EPA.
The program will be delivered as a grant program with applications open to competitive assessment, and no applicant can be guaranteed full or partial funding.
Successful applicants will be required to sign a funding deed of agreement with clear milestones attached to staged payments. Reporting against milestones will be required via SmartyGrants, to demonstrate progression and completion of the project in line with the program objectives.
Successful applicants within disaster declared local government areas under AGRN 1012 will be given until April 2024 and successful applicants within disaster declared local government areas under AGRN 1025,1030 and 1034 will be given until April 2025 to deliver projects and the agreed funding will be provided in staged payments. Timing of projects will be as per the most recent AGRN listing.
Applicants will be notified if they have received funding in writing.
Decisions by the EPA are final and there is no appeal process. However unsuccessful applicants will be given the opportunity to seek feedback by contacting the EPA.
Any concerns about this program or individual applications should be submitted in writing to RecoveryandResiliencePrograms@epa.nsw.gov.au.
If you do not agree with the way the EPA handled the issue, you may wish to contact the NSW Ombudsman.
Successful applicants will need to provide the following:
- a signed funding agreement. This agreement will be provided to applicants when notified of their successful application. It will outline all funding obligations, reporting and conditions.
- invoices made out to the NSW Environment Protection Authority.
Are Regional Organisation of Councils and Joint Organisation Councils eligible?
Yes. The program will be offered to all public land managers, including local councils (as well as regional organisations of councils or another local government-controlled organisation), in Local Government Areas (LGA) that have been declared natural disaster zones in eligible AGRNs for the 2022 floods.
Can I undertake a project in partnership with other public land managers or propose a project if I don’t own the land?
Joint projects between public land managers in eligible AGRNs are permitted. The public land manager submitting the application must have evidence of support from the other public land managers involved. If the project is not on your land, you must submit a letter of support from the landowner stating that access will be provided.
Can I apply for multiple flood waste issues within one application?
Yes, if the waste issues are eligible for funding and are in accordance with the program objectives. To reduce administrative burden, the best approach is for each public land manager to only submit one application per LGA.
What if my LGA is listed in multiple AGRNs?
The timing available for the delivery of your project will be based on the latest AGRN listing for your LGA.
Why have you set a minimum amount?
This to provide program efficiencies and reduce the level of administration that accompanies the provision of funding. In certain circumstances the EPA may consider projects under $50 000. Please contact the team if these circumstances apply to you.
What is required of me if I receive funding?
Successful applicants will be required to submit a project plan and sign a funding deed of agreement with clear milestones attached to staged payments. Reporting against milestones will be required via SmartyGrants, to demonstrate progression and completion of the project in line with the program objectives. Successful applicants will need to submit a final report including a financial report.
Successful applicants must engage with EPA regularly. The EPA may visit the project with you to check on achievements.
Successful applicants must also liaise with EPA regarding media or other promotion of the project. They must acknowledge the funding contribution made by EPA. These requirements will be detailed in a funding agreement with you.
What is the payment schedule?
Payment of grant funding will be made in 3 parts:
- Payment 1: 60% of grant funds will be paid on receipt of a satisfactory project plan, signed funding agreement and an invoice.
- Payment 2: 30% of grant funds will be paid on receipt of a satisfactory progress, financial report and an invoice.
- Payment 3: 10% of grant funds will be paid on receipt of a satisfactory final project, final financial report and an invoice.
Should I use RIDonline to record my illegal dumping data during this grant?
The EPA recommends you use RIDonline to record all your illegal dumps and infrastructure, however it is not a requirement of this grant. Recording your data will help you monitor and solve your illegal dumping issues. For more information about RIDonline and to register please email illegaldumping.strategy@epa.nsw.gov.au
What other funding is available to manage illegal dumping that is ongoing or not flood related?
The NSW EPA provides funding under the NSW Illegal Dumping Strategy 2022-27. Funding is available for public land managers to undertake projects to clean up and prevent illegal dumping and to establish illegal dumping baseline data. See Illegal Dumping Prevention Program Grants.
My Illegal dumping and waste issues are on Aboriginal lands. What funding is available?
There is funding available to support Aboriginal communities with flood recovery and waste management including illegal dumping. Further information about these programs is available at the following links or contact the team for help.
Aboriginal lands flood recovery program. This program is to support flood-impacted Aboriginal communities to assess and manage the clean-up of waste generated by the 2022 floods on Aboriginal lands. The program will focus on clean-up, waste removal and installation of illegal dumping deterrence measures. For more information see Aboriginal lands flood recovery program.
How is this program being funded?
This program is being jointly funded by the State and Commonwealth Government under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.