Environment grants

• Grant opens 4 August 2025
• Grant closes 14 September 2025
• Assessment and decisions made August-September 2025
• Applicants advised of outcomes mid-to-late October 2025
• Grants presentation event 19 November 2025
• Project commencement from November 2025
• Projects to be completed by 31 December 2026

Group applicants must:

• be an incorporated association
• be an auspiced not-for-profit community group
• be a public company limited by guarantee (not-for-profit) or a charity or benevolent trust
• have a formal structure including office bearers and a bank account
• provide support, programs or services to local residents (where the applicant is located outside of municipal borders, Banyule residents must be the major beneficiaries)
• have been established and operational for a minimum of 12 months
• provide an ABN or an auspice ABN or be willing to complete a Statement by Supplier
• hold public liability insurance up to $20M at the time of commencement and throughout the project
• Supply copies of financial statements for the group
• Demonstrate compliance with all Victorian Child Safe Standards

Individual applicants must:

• have a project taking place in 2025/2026
• be at least 18 years old
• work, live or provide significant evidence of engagement in our community
• be auspiced (auspice fees up to 5% can be funded for individual applicants)
• have auspice organisation satisfy all group eligibility requirements
• have public liability insurance up to $10M when the project starts
• Work, live or provide significant evidence of practice in the Banyule community.

You can speak to a grants officer if you would like to discuss insurance options.

Auspicing

The auspicing entity must accept responsibility for the management of funds and acquittal requirements, as well as all insurance risks of the project.

Additional conditions

Planting projects must use indigenous plants of local province. A detailed species list can be provided by contacting the Environment Grants Officer or Bushland Management Team about plant selection. Demonstration of site considerations, preparation and ongoing maintenance should be included in the application.

Our approval (including necessary permits) must be gained for any projects being undertaken on Council-owned or managed land.

Applications for projects on private land may be considered, but must fulfil the existing assessment criteria and demonstrate benefit to the wider community, or positive impacts to public land.

To receive grant funds, successful applicants must enter into a funding agreement with Banyule Council and adhere to all conditions outlined in the agreement.

Submissions will be assessed by the Banyule Environment and Climate Action Advisory Committee (BECAAC, a community advisory committee established to advise us on environmental issues) and 4 criteria:

1. Alignment with Our Sustainable Environment priority theme (25%)
2. Community and environmental benefit (25%)
3. Likelihood of success (30%)
4. Value for money (20%)

Read the guidelines for full details.

Applications must be submitted through Smarty Grants.

Apply for an individual environment grant

Apply for a group environment grant

The due date of your acquittal will be included in your agreement, typically 12 months after any grant money is awarded.

All successfully funded projects will submit an online acquittal form that requires:

• providing receipts and invoices for all expenses
• marketing materials and how you did promotions
• detail about any in-kind contributions
• project outcomes.

You must get our consent to any project variations that will alter the original funding approval before you proceed (we reserve the right to cease funding).

All requests will be considered by the Director City Development on advice from Council officers, and you will be notified of our decision.

Variations should be applied for through SmartyGrants.