Land Management Incentives Program

Land Management Incentive Program funding is available in priority areas of the Hunter region.

Funding is available for eligible landholders to implement on ground projects that improve riparian vegetation and associated land management practices within the Hunter Local Land Services Region.

View the Priority Incentives interactive map to find out more about the following programs:

• Riverbank Vegetation Improvement in the Mid Coast (Riparian Incentives)
• Riverbank Vegetation Improvement in the Hunter Valley (Riparian Incentives)
• Lower Hunter River Estuary Vegetation Improvement

How to apply for Land Management Incentive funding

1. Locate your property on the map and see what incentives programs may align to your individual land management needs and property location.
2. Submit an Expression of Interest to receive initial Local Land Services expert advice and be considered for any suitable incentives programs in your area.
3. Get support to develop your project and find out how to submit a funding application for consideration.
4. Submit your funding application.

Incentives Priority Location Map

To view an interactive map outlining our priority locations and actions that may be eligible for incentive funding please follow this link. The map is best viewed on computer and may take a moment to load.

Interactive Priority Incentives Map 

This Interactive Priority Incentives Map also contains more information on the list of funding programs that are available across parts of the Hunter Local Land Services Region.

Submit an Expression of Interest

To receive initial advice from our regional extension and advisory staff and determine if your project is eligible for incentive funding, we invite landholders to submit an Expression of Interest. Our EOI process supports eligible applicants to develop their funding application.

Expressions of Interest (EOI) will be reviewed as they are received and allocated to the most appropriate Local Land Services extension and advisory staff.

Your Hunter LLS staff allocated to your EOI will either:

1. Provide initial information and advice, upcoming training opportunities, or refer you to other suitable contacts relevant to your request,
2. Provide information and arrange a visit to your property and provide specific property based advice in the form of a “Property Site Visit Report”,
3. After a property visit, the staff may recommend (and provide support such as property maps, planning and advice) to develop a project and assist to submit an incentive application for consideration, if your priorities and location aligns with any of our priority Incentives Programs

Download, print and complete the hard copy Expression of Interest Form (this will download a Word document).

• Scan and email to: incentives.program@lls.nsw.gov.au or
• Post to Private Bag 2010, Paterson NSW 2421, or apply in person over the counter at your local office.

If you need help submitting your EOI, contact us by calling 1300 795 299.

You must submit an EOI and receive LLS advisory services to be considered for any funding opportunities under these programs.

Call us for any assistance or land management advice on 1300 795 299, whether it’s related to funding opportunities or general enquiries.

Land Management Incentives Program - Funding application process

Based on your Expression of Interest and subsequent property assessment, if your proposed changes to land management practices align with our Land Management Incentives Program, we may invite you to submit an application for funding. Local Land Services staff will assist you with project development, developing a project map and other support. Projects can range between $5,000-100,000 (see guidelines on limits to funding).

Landholders suitable to apply for funding will be provided with:

• Land Management Incentives Program Guidelines
• Land Management Incentives Program Application Form
• Fact sheet on GST implications
• Other supporting documentation, such as property specific revegetation or riparian management plan, maps or advisory reports

Application opening and closing dates for multiple funding rounds are as follows:

Eligible Applicants

To be eligible for grant funding, an applicant must meet each of the following requirements:

• be a landowner or a landholder with signed landowner permission to undertake the project on the land or if the landowner or responsible entity is a company or organisation, an application signed by an authorised representative of the entity.
• hold or commit to obtaining public liability insurance of not less than $10 million per occurrence or hold equivalent or better self-insurance to the satisfaction of LLS, prior to executing a Funding Deed or Agreement with LLS.

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant has submitted an Expression of Interest and is invited to complete an application form by Hunter LLS.
• The project is located within the Hunter LLS region in an identified priority area for this program.
• The applicant contributes a minimum of 1:1 (Landholder contribution $1: Hunter LLS funding $1) co-investment through cash and/or in-kind (e.g. labour, equipment and materials) from the landholder.
• The applicant has completed all works, monitoring and reporting for any previously funded project/s prior to submitting a new application.
• The applicant is able to complete proposed works within a 12-24 months (or otherwise agreed) timeframe.
• The application must meet Hunter LLS minimum standards for on-ground works, as detailed in the guidelines.
• The applicant/business not having previously received LLS or Catchment Management Authority (CMA) funding for the proposed works, on 2 or more previous occasions for similar works elsewhere on the same property.
• The proposed activities are consistent with local, NSW and Australian government regulations and legislation.
• The applicant has paid all current Hunter LLS financial obligations e.g. rates, Long Term Grazing Permits.
• Must not be double funded by other sources (such as other grants) for the same work or be obligated to undertake the work to meet a legislative compliance requirement or through on title or other certificates that are the responsibility of the landholder (such as Biodiversity Conservation Trust or Land Management Code certificates).

Assessment

• Assessment of applications is made by a Team Leader, staff independent of the application process and independent Business Team representatives using a Benefit Cost Tool that identifies environmental benefits, value for money and risk.
• Applications are assessed against the priorities and alignment of the Land Management Incentives programs, the advice or project development with LLS staff and feasibility/level of complexity, combined with the Benefit Cost Tool.
• Applications are assessed on their own merit, and alignment to program priorities, and are comparatively assessed based on investment source.
• Projects are either recommended for funding through the panel, recommended with variations (project or financial), or not recommended.
• Applicants may be contacted during this step to clarify information provided in their application and provide additional information if required.

Contracting

• Successful Applicants will be required to enter into a funding deed or agreement (for more complex/higher value projects) or a small grant funding letter (for simple/lower value projects) with the NSW Government covering the duration of the project activities (12-24 month period) and 5 years of maintenance thereafter.
• A copy of the standard contract with all the terms and conditions is available to all applicants to review prior to submitting the application.  Please contact Hunter LLS to access a copy of the standard agreement template.
• The contract will need to be signed by the applicant and the landowner (if different).  The landholder on the application must be the same landholder that will sign the contract, and this must also be the same landholder who will receive the grant funds.
• Successful Applicants will be required to provide all supporting documentation and approvals before LLS can enter into a funding deed or agreement. This includes $10 million Public Liability Insurance.
• Successful Applicants may be required to submit progress reports to LLS as outlined in the funding deed or agreement.

Note: All successful applications will be published online to the NSW Grants and Funding page within 45 days of approval and the Hunter Local Land Services website.