Organisations can apply for an environment grant if:

• the organisation is an eligible community organisation or is under the auspices of an eligible community organisation as defined in the Community Grants Policy.
• the organisation operates or provides services within the Toowoomba Regional Council area.
• the organisation has an Australian Business Number (ABN).
• the application is for a project that does not form part of the core business of public and private educational institutions (primary, secondary, and tertiary including Parents & Citizens and Parents & Friends Associations) and demonstrates broader community benefit.

Who can't apply:

• individuals
• for-profit companies, trusts and other organisations
• unions and student guilds
• research foundations
• professional associations
• an organisation that has been granted approval for support through a Toowoomba Regional Council program for the same project
• organisations that have not acquitted previous Council grants.

The Environment Grants Program seeks to respond to Council’s vision, values, and goals, as outlined in the Corporate Plan 2019-2024, by providing support for projects that aim to achieve one or more of the following:

1. Control of pests on Public Lands.
2. Control of pests on Land used for Community Purposes.
3. Habitat improvement on Public Lands.
4. Habitat improvement on Land used for Community Purposes.
5. Provide support for Landcare Initiatives.
6. Provide support for Community Bushcare Initiatives.
7. Provide support to groups/organisations caring for sick or injured native wildlife.
8. Protect and manage air, land and water quality.
9. Advance water, waste and energy efficiency.
10. Improve the landscape amenity and environmental sustainability of community facilities and spaces.
11. Encourage environmentally sustainable travel.
12. Reduce community carbon footprints (greenhouse gas emissions).

Preference will be given to applications that:

1. Produce measurable environmental outcomes.
2. Establish a community and or environmental need.
3. Demonstrate collaboration and partnership.
4. Are not duplicating existing projects or activities.

Grants will be given in an equitable, accountable, and transparent manner that produces community benefits while complying with regulatory and reporting requirements.

Environment grants will not fund:

• loan or other debt repayments
• recurrent administration and running costs, such as:
  • regular wages
  • regular office expenses
  • rent, mortgage repayments or land purchases
  • equipment that has a short life or needs regular replacement
  • rates, utilities, energy, insurance or regulatory expenses
• projects with a commercial purpose
• projects which are of a private as opposed to community benefit. (Note: For larger projects of both private and community benefit, only the portion of the project which is of community benefit shall be eligible for funding)
• projects already funded by other Toowoomba Regional Council grant programs
• prize money, trophies, raffle prizes or fundraising.