Friends of Park Grants

372 The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) ().28 August 2024). Can the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water advise:

1. How many Friends of Parks grants were awarded in 2023-24 and what was the value of those grants?

2. How many applications for Friends of Parks grants were there?

3. Please provide the selection criteria for the Friends of Parks grants.

4. Were any funds returned to the department because a friends group was unable to deliver the project?

5. What is the process for acquitting the grant funding and ensuring the project is completed?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Climate, Environment and Water has advised:

1. 41 Friends of Parks grants were awarded in 2023-24 totalling $174,426.40 of grant funding.

2. 57 applications were received in 2023-24.

3. Grants were assessed against the following criteria:

Protection and/or restoration of land, biodiversity, environment and either European or Indigenous heritage sites. The extent to which the project contributes to that protection and/or restoration, through on-ground works, or follow up on previous on-ground work.

Value for money. The budget demonstrates that the application represents good value for money, including realistic costs that are directly related to the grant proposal, and a clear justification for requested budget items.

Project in-kind or co-contribution. To meet the Department of Treasury and Finance requirements, groups must demonstrate an in-kind or co-contribution to their project of at least 50 per cent of the funding amount being sought. This can include volunteer hours, other funds or other in-kind contribution.

National Parks and Wildlife Service regional staff/local government/private landowner support. Project applicants must have obtained all necessary endorsements or approvals from either the national park region, local government and/or private landowner for the proposed project to be undertaken, prior to an application being submitted. If legislative approvals or permits are required to carry out the proposed works, these have been obtained and attached to the application.

Projects/activities must also be supported by an approved plan (e.g. park management plan, regional landscape plan, biodiversity plan, fire management plan, or species recovery plan) and supported by the relevant district ranger, national parks and wildlife manager, or other land manager.

4. No funds were returned to the department because a Friends of Parks group was unable to deliver its project.

5. Friends of Parks grants recipients complete annual acquittals and project reports (for projects longer than 12 months), or an end-of-project acquittal and report (for projects 12 months or less). The acquittals and reports document progress against the project milestones and expenditure against the project budget.