Bushland Management Grants

In 2007 the City introduced the first round of "Bushland Management Grants" with an aim to assist private landowners to preserve and enhance the biodiversity values of their properties. The Grants are part of the City's overall commitment to the protection of bushland and was initially funded through a grant received from the South West Biodiversity Project. The purpose of the Bushland Management Grants is to assist private landowners to retain, rehabilitate and manage bushland on their properties to conserve biodiversity, remove weeds and pests, and establish or extend bushland corridors.

To be eligible for a grant, the property must be classified as Rural or Rural Residential under the City’s Town Planning Scheme No 3. Larger urban blocks may also be considered if located in an area of ecological significance. The application form must be completed in full, including a proposed management plan. A preliminary site assessment will be undertaken by a City Officer or associated representative to determine success from a short list of applicants.

The grant may be used for purposes such as:

• Weed/pest control
• Purchase of seed or juvenile plants
• Purchase of relevant materials or equipment (eg. rabbit-proof fencing, irrigation pipe)
• Contractor costs
• Equipment hire

Other relevant uses of funding will also be considered.

All applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:

• Previous workshop attendance (eg Heavenly Hectares, Property Planning or similar) or volunteer planting by the applicant  
• Willingness of the applicant to contribute their own time and money into the project
• Size of the site
• Health of existing site vegetation
• Proximity of site to existing bushland or wetlands (linkages)
• Biodiversity value of the site
• Proposed management plan

The grant allocation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. It is expected that the average successful grant will be approximately $1,500. Adjacent property holders can apply for a combined project, whereby separate grants will be awarded to each landholder.

The City advertises in City Voice (Mandurah Mail) in September for expressions of interest in receiving grant funds to undertake rehabilitation works. The City may also approach individual landowners. An Expression of Interest form must be completed.

Interested parties will then be contacted to arrange a site meeting with City Officers and discuss their properties and potential management actions. Officers will then assist landowners in completing a Grant Application Form and devising an appropriate management plan. Officers will then assess applications, once they have been received from all landowners, to determine which properties are most deserving of grant funds. All applicants will be contacted in writing about their application.

Successful applicants will be obligated to;

• Sign a Voluntary Management Agreement for the protection, management and monitoring of the bushland for a period of three (3) years from the outset of the agreement 
•  Acquit all grant funds and provide evidence of grant expenditure by completing an Itemised Statement of Expenditure and attaching copies of all receipts. This must include all personal project spending by the applicant, and should reflect the original project cost estimate as a minimum
• Ensure that stock and vehicles are excluded from the bushland project site

All applicants will be invited to attend a Bushland Management Workshop hosted by the City. The workshop will provide landowners with useful information on managing and maintaining private bushland and planning and carrying out rehabilitation projects.

The City of Mandurah reserves the discretion to provide the grant funding in the form of a cash reimbursement, labour, or provision of services/subcontractors (including any combination of funding types). Grant funding will be based broadly upon specific considerations and may be subject to market fluctuation.

Grant funding may be partially awarded on the outset of works, with the difference awarded on project completion. Evidence of all expenses must be provided on completion of works prior to final grant payment.

After the completion of the project, ongoing monitoring and maintenance will be required to be undertaken by the landowner with the support of the City to ensure the health and success of the bushland project. This must be carried out to the specifications of the ‘Bushland Grant Monitoring form’. Successful applicants may reapply for future grants the following year.

For further information on the grants or to express your interest in the scheme, please see the contact box on the right side of this page.