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NSW Marine Estate Management Strategy Reconnecting Fish Habitats

NSW Marine Estate Management – Reconnecting Fish Habitats

  • Application closed: 1 January 2024
  • Grants: up to $500,000

Administered by Department of Regional NSW, this program offers grant funding through the NSW Marine Estate Management Strategy that enhance fish habitat connectivity in coastal waterways of NSW.

Key Requirements

The objective is to facilitate fish migration at critical weir and road crossing obstructions in coastal waterways.

Financial support is allocated to initiatives that will result in, or contribute to, practical measures at key locations to enhance accessibility to coastal fish habitats.

What is eligible for funding?

The assessment criteria for both road crossing and weir barriers include:

  1. Stream Habitat Value considers the stream class, its location in the catchment, the number of downstream barriers, and the amount of upstream habitat that would become available.
  2. Structure Impact assesses whether a road crossing is a physical, hydrological, or behavioural barrier and the hydrological impact of weirs in terms of structure height and submersion frequency.
  3. Waterway Condition evaluates stream size, habitat quality, surrounding land use, and the presence of threatened species.
  4. Modification Opportunity considers whether the structure is obsolete, the ease of remediation, and any other uses that could complicate remediation.

This grant funds the removal of priority road or weir structures that act as fish passage barriers, where environmental and social conditions permit. It also funds the replacement of priority road structures that act as fish passage barriers with more suitable structures, such as replacing causeways with bridges. Additionally, the grant supports the construction of fishways at priority weir fish passage barriers.

What companies are eligible for funding?

Priority sites within coastal areas are identified by the Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries. They develop a remediation proposal for streams flowing eastward to the Marine Estate and approach building owners to ascertain their interest in carrying out repair work.

Examples of structure owners are:

  • NSW local councils operating under the Local Government Act 1993
  • water management authorities
  • businesses
  • private individuals.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Entitlement. Applications are assessed against eligibility criteria.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.