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QLD Great Barrier Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund – Wastewater Grant Program

QLD Great Barrier Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund – Wastewater Grant Program

  • Total wastewater component funding pool: $8 million to $10 million.
  • Tier 1: Up to $4,000,000, excluding GST, for projects of up to three years focused on trialling wastewater treatment or management solutions to minimum viable product stage and parallel commercialisation advice.
  • Tier 2: Up to $200,000, excluding GST, for projects of up to two years focused on assisting commercialisation of relatively new to market wastewater treatment or management solutions to overcome market barriers.
  • Matched funding requirement for Tier 1: Applicants must make a cash contribution at least double the amount of Program funding sought.
  • Matched funding requirement for Tier 2: No minimum requirement.
  • Project duration: Tier 1 projects are up to three years and Tier 2 projects are up to two years.
  • Applications close: August 17 2026

The Great Barrier Reef Urban Technology and Innovation Fund – Wastewater Grant Program supports innovative wastewater treatment solutions and management approaches that can reduce the impact of urban water pollution on the Great Barrier Reef. The program focuses on wastewater treatment within Reef catchments and seeks to expand the range of affordable systems capable of achieving leading practice end of pipe nutrient concentrations.

Funding is available through two tiers. Tier 1 supports operational scale trials and commercialisation advice for projects moving toward minimum viable product stage. Tier 2 supports commercialisation and market expansion for relatively new to market solutions that have reached minimum viable product stage. The program is targeted at technologies and approaches that are innovative, affordable, proven through testing, and capable of delivering environmental, social or economic benefits for Reef catchments and Queensland.

Key Requirements

• Reduce urban water pollution impacts on the Great Barrier Reef: The program supports innovative wastewater treatment and management approaches that improve wastewater treatment within Reef catchments and contribute to Reef water quality improvement. [gbr-wastew…guidelines | PDF]

• Support affordable and innovative wastewater treatment solutions: Projects should focus on solutions or approaches that can achieve leading practice end of pipe nutrient concentrations, or provide novel and affordable ways to support wastewater recycling or beneficial reuse. [gbr-wastew…guidelines | PDF]

• Accelerate commercialisation: The program supports already piloted innovative wastewater management technologies, operational management solutions and relatively new to market wastewater treatment technologies to overcome commercialisation barriers. [gbr-wastew…guidelines | PDF]

• Demonstrate technical maturity: Tier 1 projects must be at or beyond functional prototype stage, while Tier 2 projects must be at or beyond minimum viable product stage. [gbr-wastew…guidelines | PDF]

• Deliver projects in Reef catchments: Tier 1 projects must involve on-ground trials within the Great Barrier Reef catchment, while Tier 2 projects must relate to products with demonstration sites located within the Great Barrier Reef catchment. [gbr-wastewater-faqs | PDF]

• Deliver benefits for Queensland: Applications should demonstrate economic, social, regional and environmental benefits, including potential sales or revenue, employment effects, entrepreneurship and innovation, regional Queensland benefits, Indigenous business or community benefits, and alignment with Queensland priorities

What is eligible for funding?

• Planning and design.
• Obtaining approvals and permits.
• Construction.
• Trial operations.
• Data analysis and synthesis, including reporting.
• Marketing, communication and engagement required for commercialisation.
• Monitoring and evaluation.
• Administration of the project, capped at 15% of the grant funding allocation.
• Salary expenditure, including salary-related on-costs, for employees of the applicant organisation directly contributing to project delivery.
• Services provided by unrelated external parties.
• Equipment, materials and consumables.
• Domestic travel, accommodation and subsistence for employees and contractors required specifically for project delivery.
• Professional advice and reasonable costs to protect intellectual property

What companies are eligible for funding?

• Applicant organisations must have an ABN and be registered for GST.
• Eligible applicants include universities.
• Eligible applicants include Research and Technology Organisations.
• Eligible applicants include proprietary wastewater treatment system companies.
• Eligible applicants include water utility companies that invest in wastewater treatment research and development.
• Local government organisations and Natural Resource Management organisations within the Reef catchment may be eligible only if auspicing for one of the eligible organisation types.
• Tier 1 applicants must make a cash contribution at least double the amount of grant funding sought.
• Applicants must accept the funding agreement terms and conditions.
• Applicants must not have overdue project acquittals or outstanding contractual obligations for state or Commonwealth government funding.
• Applicants must not be subject to legal proceedings or financial audit investigation processes.
• Companies may apply if they are proprietary wastewater treatment system companies, water utility companies investing in wastewater treatment research and development, or otherwise meet the stated eligible organisation requirements