Illegal dumping and flood waste recovery program

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).

Funds may be used for approved activities such as safely removing and lawfully disposing of or reusing flood-generated waste, and restoring measures to deter future illegal dumping. Funding may be made available to successful applicants to cover salaries or wages of staff directly involved with the delivery of the approved grant activities. Applicants must clearly demonstrate in their application the need for funding to cover salary costs, with this to be assessed and determined as part of the application process.

Applicants may choose to include scoping and assessment of waste issues phase as part of their application.

Project funds can be used for any items necessary to complete the approved project, including:

• project management and administration
• consultants, contractors and labour hire or staff wages
• Vehicle hire and fuel
• equipment hire and purchase
• communications and media activities associated with the Approved Project
• fees to receive and process waste as part of the Approved Project.

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.