stream 1 of the regional natural resource management...

Stream 1 of the Regional Natural Resource Management Planning

for Climate Change Fund

Grant guidelines 2012–13 Applications must be submitted by 5.00pm AEDST* 26 February 2013

Assistance for regional NRM organisations to revise existing regional NRM plans to guide planning for climate change impacts on the land and to maximise the environmental benefits of carbon farming projects

*Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time

Grant guidelines 2012–13

Applications close 5.00pm AEDST* 26 February 2013

Program information, guidelines and related forms are available at: www.environment.gov.au/cleanenergyfuture/regional-fund/index.html Telephone: 02 6274 2392 Email: [email protected]

Applications should be submitted electronically by email to [email protected].

If you are unable to submit your application electronically, you can submit a hard copy application. Hard copies must be postmarked on or before 26 February 2013 to:

Stream 1—Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund Biodiversity Conservation Division Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601

Electronic submissions are preferred.

The Australian Government, including the Department and its officers, employees, agents and advisors:• are not, and will not be, responsible or liable for the accuracy or completeness of any information in or provided in

connection with these Guidelines;• make no express or implied representation or warranty that any statement as to future matters will prove correct;• disclaim any and all liability arising from any information provided to an applicant, including errors in, or omissions

contained in that information;• except in so far as liability under any statute cannot be excluded, accept no responsibility arising in any way from

errors or omissions contained in these Guidelines; and• accept no liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of that person, or any other

person, placing reliance on the contents of these Guidelines or any other information provided by the Australian Government in respect of Stream 1 of the Fund.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2012 With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms all material presented in this document under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence.

Images:Front cover (left to right): Wheat paddock—Michael Marriott; Koolan Island range—R.L. Barrett; Planning for natural resource management—John Baker; Kurrimine Beach River—Roger Fryer. Back cover (left to right): Southern Brown Bandicoot—Dave Watts; Sunset over water—Nick Rains; Planting a seedling—Georgia Curry

* Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time

http://www.environment.gov.au/cleanenergyfuture/regional-fund/index.html

mailto:[email protected]


http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/

i

CONTENTS1. Introduction .........................................................................................................................1

Securing a Clean Energy Future—the Australian Government’s climate change plan ........1

The Clean Energy Future plan—Land Sector Package ........................................................2

What is a regional NRM plan? ................................................................................................4

What is Stream 1 of the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund? ......................4

Why is the Australian Government investing in the update of regional NRM plans with climate change information? ...........................................................................................5

Role of regional NRM organisations ......................................................................................5

What will an updated regional NRM plan look like? ...............................................................6

2. Timeframes and Budget ......................................................................................................7

3. Eligibility ................................................................................................................................8Who is eligible to apply? .........................................................................................................8

Limit of one application per regional NRM organisation ........................................................8

Duration of proposed projects ................................................................................................9

4. Activities .............................................................................................................................10Types of activities to which funding could be applied under Stream 1 of the Fund ............10

5. Application process ...........................................................................................................13How to apply .........................................................................................................................13

Late applications ...................................................................................................................15

6. Assessment criteria ...........................................................................................................16

7. Acknowledgment and assessment of applications ......................................................18Receipt and registration of applications ...............................................................................18

Assessment of eligible applications .....................................................................................18

Selection and notification .....................................................................................................20

8. Funding Agreement requirements ...................................................................................21

9. Rights and responsibilities ...............................................................................................24Applicant regional NRM organisations .................................................................................24

The Australian Government’s rights .....................................................................................25

Confidentiality and privacy ...................................................................................................25

ii | Regional Natural Resource Management Planning for Climate Change Fund (Stream 1): Grant guidelines 2012–13

10. Enquiries and complaints .................................................................................................27

11. Contact details ....................................................................................................................28

Appendix 1: Principles for the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund .........29How the Principles were developed .....................................................................................29

Guidance for meeting the Principles ...................................................................................31

Principle 1: Plans identify priority landscapes for carbon plantings and strategies to build landscape integrity and guide adaptation and mitigation actions to address climate change impacts on natural ecosystems ....................................................32

Principle 2: The planning process is logical, comprehensive, and transparent ..................38

Principle 3: Plans use best available information to develop actions and are based on collaboration with government, community and other stakeholders ...................................45

Appendix 2: List of Regional NRM Organisations ...............................................................50

1

1. INTRODUCTION These Guidelines introduce Stream 1 of the Regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) Planning for Climate Change Fund (the Fund) which forms part of the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future plan. These Guidelines outline the investment priorities, budget and timeframes, the process for seeking funding, and the principles guiding Stream 1 of the Fund.

Securing a Clean Energy Future—the Australian Government’s climate change plan

The Australian Government (the Government) has a comprehensive plan to move Australia to a clean energy future. The plan has four elements: a carbon price, renewable energy, energy efficiency and action on the land (the Land Sector Package). The plan also details how the Australian Government will support Australian households, businesses and communities to transition to a clean energy future. Further details on the plan can be found on the Clean Energy Future website at: www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au.

The Land Sector Package is a key element of the Government’s plan that:

• recognises that farmers and land managers have an important role to play in reducing carbon pollution along with governments, households and the wider business community; and

• creates new opportunities for land managers.

Funding of $1.7 billion is allocated through seven specific land sector measures, creating opportunities for rural and regional Australia to participate in the carbon market.

http://www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au

2 | Regional Natural Resource Management Planning for Climate Change Fund (Stream 1): Grant guidelines 2012–13

The Clean Energy Future plan—Land Sector Package

Under the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future Plan, $1.7 billion of revenue raised by the carbon price will be reinvested in the land sector. This funding is in addition to funding committed under the Caring for our Country initiative. The following programs are collectively referred to as the Land Sector Package:

• Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board—An independent, permanent advisory board established under the Climate Change Authority Act 2011 (Cth) to provide advice on implementation of the Land Sector Package measures.

• Regional Natural Resource Management Planning for Climate Change Fund—$43.9 million over five years to improve regional natural resource management planning, and use of climate change science, information and scenarios to plan for the impacts of climate change.

• Biodiversity Fund—an ongoing program that will provide $946.2 million over six years to support land managers to undertake projects that establish, restore, protect or manage biodiverse carbon stores.

• Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund—an ongoing program that will provide $22.3 million over five years to help Indigenous Australians benefit from carbon farming.

• Carbon Farming Futures—$429 million over six years, comprising $201 million for research into abatement technologies and practices; $20 million to convert research into estimation methodologies for use in the Carbon Farming Initiative; $99 million for on-farm trials and demonstration of abatement practice and technology; $44 million to provide a 15 per cent Refundable Tax offset for new eligible conservation tillage equipment installed between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2015; and $64 million for the new extension officers to help farmers benefit from carbon farming.

• Carbon Farming Initiative Non-Kyoto Carbon Fund—$250 million to purchase credits that are not Kyoto-compatible.

• Carbon Farming Skills—$4 million over five years for a new qualification in carbon farming and an accreditation scheme for key carbon providers.

3

The Land Sector Package is designed to be complementary to the Carbon Farming Initiative (the CFI). The CFI allows farmers and other land managers to earn carbon credits by storing carbon or reducing greenhouse gas emissions on the land. These credits, known as Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), can be sold to people and businesses wishing to offset their emissions.

Under the CFI legislation, CFI project proponents are required to state that their project is consistent with the relevant regional NRM plan. To ensure potential benefits are maximised for agricultural productivity, biodiversity and local communities from CFI projects, it is important that CFI project proponents have access to recent regional NRM plans that include up to date climate change information.

Regional NRM organisations should keep informed of the CFI approved methodologies as they are drafted, and anticipate the type of CFI projects that may be undertaken in their region. More information on the CFI approved methodologies is available on the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency’s (DCCEE) website at www.climatechange.gov.au/en/government/initiatives/carbon-farming-initiative/methodology-development

The Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund

The Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund (the Fund) will provide $43.9 million over five years to help regional NRM organisations incorporate climate change mitigation and adaptation measures into existing regional NRM plans. The Fund complements the CFI and the Biodiversity Fund by supporting planning that will help guide the types and locations of activities under these initiatives, primarily reforestation activities and the management of remnant vegetation.

The Fund has two streams:

• Stream 1—$28.9 million in funding to help regional NRM organisations plan for climate change impacts by updating existing regional NRM plans to incorporate climate change mitigation and adaptation approaches. Stream 1 will be delivered by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (the Department) and is covered by these Guidelines.

• Stream 2—$15 million for coordination of research to produce regional-level climate change information in the form of projections to support medium term regional NRM and land use planning. Stream 2 will provide advice directly to NRM planners to help them determine which climate change information is the most appropriate and how to take account of uncertainty in planning for a changing climate. Stream 2 will be delivered by DCCEE. More information on Stream 2 is available at www.climatechange.gov.au/NRMfundstream2.

These Guidelines apply only to the administration of Stream 1 of the Fund.

http://www.climatechange.gov.au/en/government/initiatives/carbon-farming-initiative/methodology-development

http://www.climatechange.gov.au/en/government/initiatives/carbon-farming-initiative/methodology-development

http://www.climatechange.gov.au/NRMfundstream2


Linkages to the CFI and the Biodiversity Fund

A key outcome of the Fund is to use the updated regional NRM plans to guide the location and nature of biodiversity and revegetation activities and optimise the environmental, water and agricultural outcomes of CFI projects. These activities may include those undertaken through the Biodiversity Fund and the CFI.

Over time, Biodiversity Fund investment priorities and decisions may be guided by the updated regional NRM plans as they become available.

What is a regional NRM plan?

A regional NRM plan documents the natural resource management aspirations, assets, priorities and the unique challenges faced by the NRM region. Plans generally engage and support regional and rural communities, facilitate partnerships within and between regions, identify the region’s NRM priorities, and tackle the challenges that threaten the sustainability of the region such as climate change impacts and the legacy of past changes in land management.

An effective regional NRM plan incorporates the best available information and reflects the growing capabilities of the region, the changing priorities of investors, stakeholders and communities, and changes in the operating environment of regional NRM organisations.

Australia currently has an NRM plan in some form for each NRM region, with the exception of Cape York, which only recently established a regional NRM organisation.

What is Stream 1 of the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund?

The CFI is likely to start influencing land use patterns by providing new carbon abatement opportunities, particularly through vegetation plantings and avoided deforestation and revegetation. Potential CFI projects will therefore need to be considered within a local and regional context to ensure that environmental, agricultural and community values and aspirations are upheld. Nationally however, Australia’s existing regional NRM plans have been reviewed at varying times and a number are therefore limited in their capacity to prepare regions for the emerging carbon market and climate change impacts.

Stream 1 of the Fund will provide funding and guidance to regional NRM organisations to help incorporate climate change mitigation and adaptation into existing regional NRM plans.

The objective of Stream 1 of the Fund is to produce updated regional NRM plans capable of guiding where carbon bio-sequestration opportunities exist and management actions should occur in the Australian landscape.

5

The use of climate change information and projections during the planning process will be critical in the maintenance of a healthy region well into the future.

Why is the Australian Government investing in the update of regional NRM plans with climate change information?

Climate change is an emerging threat and now is an appropriate time to update regional NRM plans to align with and reflect new national and global challenges and the establishment of carbon markets. In 2000, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to invest in activities based on regional plans and strategies. These plans were funded under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and the Natural Heritage Trust where local community groups were building on the integrated NRM framework. Plans were funded, assessed and accredited jointly by the Australian Government and state and territory governments.

In 2007, the Australian Government shifted its focus to national outcomes and priorities for investment through the Caring for our Country initiative. Subsequently, regional NRM plans and planning processes were managed directly by the regions or relevant statutory arrangements.

In 2012, the Clean Energy Future plan is focusing on the update and use of regional NRM plans to play a central role in the delivery of NRM. This will be the most productive, effective and efficient way of planning for Australia’s future at a scale that historically has been effective in maintaining and enhancing regional values, including communities, and targeting NRM investment.

Under the Clean Energy Future plan, regional NRM plans will continue to be managed in line with existing statutory or nonstatutory arrangements, but updated to align with Australian Government policies and initiatives.

Role of regional NRM organisations

Regional NRM organisations have well established governance arrangements, implementation and delivery processes, record keeping, management and monitoring systems, as well as experience in developing regional NRM plans for their regions through collaborative approaches to NRM planning and delivery.

The Australian Government expects regional NRM organisations to provide landholders, community groups, non-government and Indigenous organisations the support and access to knowledge and skills that is necessary to manage natural resources. It is essential that all parties are engaged in developing the regional NRM plan and see themselves as contributing to its objectives and strategies.


What will an updated regional NRM plan look like?

There are significant differences in the status, style and requirements of regional NRM plans within and across regions, states and territories. The Government has therefore developed a flexible ‘principle’-based approach to updating regional NRM plans. Updates made to regional NRM plans under Stream 1 of the Fund must address the Principles for the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund (the Principles). There is scope for regional NRM organisations to contextualise the principles at a regional scale.

The Principles and guiding information are provided in Appendix 1 and are critical for consideration in completing an application for funding under Stream 1 of the Fund. Completed updated regional NRM plans will also need to reflect each of the Principles and associated Attributes. Funding recipients will be required to submit a draft to the Department prior to the submission of their final updated regional NRM plan. Upon completion, the Department will make an assessment of the updated regional NRM plans and, if they are consistent with the Principles, declare that the terms of funding have been met.

7

2. TIMEFRAMES AND BUDGETTable 1 shows indicative key dates for the implementation of Stream 1 of the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund.

Table 1: Indicative key dates for Stream 1 of the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund

Period for submitting applications commences 20 December 2012

Closing date for submission of applications 26 February 2013

Assessment period March 2013

Expected signing of Funding Agreement April 2013

First payments begin April 2013

Updates to regional NRM plans completed February 2016

Stream 1 of the Fund is a five year, $28.9 million program, planning for which commenced on 1 July 2011. $24.16 million of Stream 1 of the Fund is for investment, commencing in 2012–13.

Table 2 below shows the administered budget profile over four years for Stream 1 of the Fund. The program’s investment profile is such that the majority of these funds become available in the 2013–14 financial year.

Note: The figures in this table indicate the amount of funding available for investment and do not include the Department’s administrative costs.

Table 2: Stream 1 investment budget—current administered funding profile

Financial Year 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 Total

Total investment budget ($ millions)

3.76 18.0 1.15 1.25 24.16

Regional NRM organisations are invited to apply for funding to update their regional NRM plans. Eligible applications will be considered on merit against the assessment criteria outlined in Section 6 of these Guidelines. The final level of funding granted to each successful application will be determined on a competitive case by case basis. Project budget profiles may need to be adjusted to align with departmental budget considerations. Applicants will be advised of any such budget changes.


3. ELIGIBILITYWho is eligible to apply?

Regional NRM organisations are best placed to deliver program objectives as they have well established governance arrangements, implementation and delivery processes, and are experienced in developing NRM plans for their regions.

To be eligible for funding under Stream 1 of the Fund, applicants must:

• be one of the regional NRM organisations in the identified NRM regions across Australia listed in Appendix 2 of these Guidelines (where a regional NRM organisation is not a legal entity, for contracting purposes, they must have an arrangement with an organisation that is, and who can enter into a funding agreement on their behalf1); and

• with the exception of the recently established Cape York Regional NRM Group, have an existing regional NRM plan or equivalent that they will update to incorporate climate change mitigation and adaptation.

It is important to note that submission of an application, or meeting the eligibility criteria, does not guarantee funding.

Limit of one application per regional NRM organisation

Each eligible regional NRM organisation may only submit one application. Where regional NRM organisations may be proposing to collaborate on one or more activities, each regional NRM organisation should still submit an individual application. In this case, the application should identify the activities that are part of the proposed collaboration, and the proportion of funds being sought to contribute to the collaboration. The application form provides scope for including this information where relevant.

In relation to recent changes in New South Wales, applications from Western, Murray and Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) can include activities to update the regional NRM plans (Catchment Action Plans) they have inherited for the former Lower Murray Darling and Sydney Metropolitan CMAs through amalgamations. These applications should clearly explain how the updates will be handled across the newly defined areas covered by the CAPs, consistent with the requirements and Principles for Stream 1 of the Fund. Funding allocations for successful applications will be determined on a case by case basis.

1 Enquiries regarding legal entities should be directed to the Department via the contact details provided in Section 10 of these Guidelines.

9

Duration of proposed projects

Funding under Stream 1 of the Fund is available between 2012–13 and 2015–16. It is intended that this will be the only call for funding under Stream 1 of the Fund. The Department anticipates that, while updates to some regional NRM plans may require the full four years of the program, most updates of plans should be well progressed or complete for the purpose of guiding investments and policies as early as 2013–14.


4. ACTIVITIES Updated regional NRM plans will reflect each of the Principles to effectively guide decisions relating to the location and nature of carbon abatement projects across the relevant landscape. The planning approach may consider landscape connectivity, resilience and wildlife corridors, and support the implementation of major existing and emerging Government policies and programs.

In accordance with the Principles, some key aims of activities to update the regional NRM plans will be to:

• include stakeholder engagement, reflect community aspirations, and identify priorities in the relevant landscape through innovative methods, mapping or evidence based criteria;

• incorporate climate change information, variability, trends, and risks associated with inconclusive climate change projections, and consider mitigation and adaptation activities and the ability of ecosystems to adapt or be resilient to the changing climate;

• recognise that updated regional NRM plans will differ between regional NRM organisations depending on state or territory jurisdictional requirements and planning processes, and make updates in an appropriate format (e.g. as a single chapter of the plan, throughout the plan, or as an addendum to a current plan);

• use and build on experience and knowledge gained from prior planning and implementation of regional NRM plans;

• use decision-making tools and approaches for various timescales (e.g. short (5–10 years), medium (10–30 years) and long term), and a range of plausible future climate change projections; and

• consider plans as ‘living’ documents and adopt an adaptive management approach that promotes continual improvement of strategic planning.

Types of activities to which funding could be applied under Stream 1 of the Fund

The types of activities that funding may support, include but are not limited to:

• stakeholder consultation and engagement activities, such as:

– developing and implementing a stakeholder engagement plan;

– surveys, meetings or workshops including facilitation;

– consultation and collaborative forums on priority areas; or

– traditional owner engagement;

11

• directly relevant administrative and legal costs, for example those associated with negotiating and establishing collaborative arrangements with partners to improve planning processes and outcomes across the region or relevant landscapes2;

• capacity building activities or arrangements in collaboration with other regional NRM organisations2;

• purchasing and/or training in using spatial land use planning and decision support tools to identify and describe the region’s systems and to determine priorities for regional NRM planning for climate change;

• accessing specific technical expertise not otherwise available through Government initiatives; and

• accessing and analysing relevant datasets at an appropriate scale and resolution that are not otherwise available through Government initiatives.

Applications should not be submitted for activities that are:

• beyond the scope of the matters covered by the Principles;

• being undertaken outside Australia;

• already completed;

• required by law;

• more appropriately funded by other initiatives or programs such as the Biodiversity Fund, or Caring for our Country;

• the same as activities funded by another initiative or program3;

• to occur beyond the 2015–16 financial year;

• for administrative or legal costs other than those directly relevant;

• not integral to achieving the project’s outcomes;

• inconsistent with key national, state and territory NRM policies or planning requirements;

• effectively direct subsidisation of commercial activities, business start-up or where the primary purpose is commercial gain; or

• within the scope of climate change information that will be delivered through Stream 2 of the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund. For information on what Stream 2 aims to deliver, please refer to: www.climatechange.gov.au/NRMfundstream2.

2 Where these collaborative arrangements are proposed, it is the responsibility of the regional NRM organisations involved to negotiate and maintain the necessary arrangements. Where any of the funding sought is linked to any other proposal for funding under Stream 1 of the Fund, this information must be reflected in the relevant section of the application form.

3 Organisations may have received funding from other sources for broader regional NRM planning activities. Funding from the Fund should not be sought for activities which have already been specifically funded by other sources.


Applications should take into account both the total funding available and the profile of that funding over the four years of the program (Table 2). The Department will work with successful applicants to ensure that milestones and payments under the Funding Agreements are structured in accordance with the overall available program funding.

Pending the outcomes of the application process outlined in Section 5 of these Guidelines, the Department will enter into a Funding Agreement with each successful applicant for a term of up to four years.

Projects to update regional NRM plans can be for a term of one to four years. The due dates for submitting draft and final updated regional NRM plans will be stipulated in each Funding Agreement, but all plans updated under the Fund must be submitted to the Department by February 2016 at the latest. It is expected that most plans will be completed before this date.

13

5. APPLICATION PROCESSEligible applicants are invited to submit an application for funding under Stream 1 of the Fund. Applicants are required to submit an application in order to be considered for funding. Applications are to be submitted using the process outlined below.

The application period commences on 20 December 2012 and closes at 5.00pm AEDST4 on 26 February 2013 (Closing Time).

How to apply

Use the following process to submit an application for funding under Stream 1 of the Fund.

1. Read these Guidelines.

2. Download the application form available at www.environment.gov.au/cleanenergyfuture/regional-fundORIf you do not have access to the internet you can request a hard copy of relevant documents by calling the Department on 1800 008 678.

Only one application per eligible applicant will be considered for the purposes of the assessment process.

Applications should include all the information that is required by the application form.

Applicants should only submit the completed application form and required attachments—no additional supporting documentation should be submitted at this stage.

Electronic submission of applications is preferred, noting that the email size (including attachments) should not exceed 7MB. If the email size (including attachments) is larger than 7MB, attachments can be sent in separate emails to remain under the 7MB limit. Please clearly identify all emails as being a part of your application.

3. Complete and submit the application form by 5.00pm (AEDST) 26 February 2013 by email to [email protected] and ensure you keep a copy for your records.

If you are submitting a hard copy application form it must be postmarked on or before 26 February 2012. If you believe that your application may not arrive before this date please contact the Department on 1800 008 678.

4 Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time




Hard copy applications are to be addressed and delivered to:

Post: Courier delivery:Stream 1—Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund Biodiversity Conservation Division Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2601

Stream 1—Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund Biodiversity Conservation Division Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Reception, Lovett Tower 13 Keltie Street WODEN ACT 2606

Submission of the application form electronically will be deemed to have been signed and approved by an authorised officer of the regional NRM organisation. Hardcopy applications are to be signed and approved by an authorised officer of the regional NRM organisation.

Amendments to submitted application forms can only be made before the application period closes. If you need to alter your application prior to the Closing Time, please contact the Department in writing by email on [email protected].

The Department may, at its sole discretion, extend the application period. Any such extension will be communicated to all eligible regional NRM organisations via email to CEOs or equivalent only, and published on the Department’s website.

It is each applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all information required in the application form is submitted by the Closing Time.

Applicants are responsible for all costs incurred in the preparation and lodgement of an application and in respect of any discussions, enquiries or any work undertaken prior to signing a Funding Agreement.

Departmental representatives are available to provide information on factual matters such as the assessment process and eligibility, clarification of terms, program objectives, priorities or relevant information sources. If you have any questions about the application process or Stream 1 of the Fund, please contact the Department on:

Phone: 1800 008 678 Email: [email protected]



15

Late applications

Unless an alternative timeframe has been agreed to by the Department prior to the Closing Time, any application submitted after the Closing Time (if lodged electronically or delivered by courier), or postmarked after the Closing Time (if lodged by post) will be considered late and will be registered separately. The Department may consider admitting late applications under extenuating circumstances. Any requests for an extension of time to lodge an application must be made to the Department prior to the Closing Time. These requests should be submitted in writing to: [email protected].

The Department has no obligation to accept a late application. Any decision by the Department to accept or not accept a late application is at the Department’s absolute discretion and will be final.



6. ASSESSMENT CRITERIAWhere an application is determined to meet the eligibility criteria, it will be assessed to determine the extent to which it addresses the following assessment criteria. The assessment criteria are not weighted. Guidance is provided below under each criterion as to the nature of the information sought, and applicants should ensure the information they provide in their application form covers the requirements of these criteria.

Criterion 1—The proposed activities are consistent with the Principles for the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund

For this criterion, applications are expected to describe the updates that are needed to bring the applicant’s regional NRM plan into alignment with the Principles for the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund (the Principles). Applications are expected to describe the process and specific activities that will be undertaken to update regional NRM plans and demonstrate how these will achieve alignment with the Principles. Appendix 1 of these Guidelines contains the Principles and guidance to assist in responding to this criterion.

Criterion 2—The organisation’s current planning capacity and requested additional resources are appropriate to enable the required updates to the regional NRM plan

For this criterion, applications are expected to describe:

• the applicant’s current planning capacity, and any additional resources required to update the existing regional NRM plan;

• the applicant’s capacity to deliver an updated regional NRM plan on time and within budget, including the proposed governance arrangements for updating the regional NRM plans;

• whether the applicant has obtained, or will be able to obtain all necessary planning, regulatory and other approvals before commencement of the proposed project; and

• how risks associated with the success of the project will be mitigated, particularly any impact on capacity to guide Biodiversity Fund and CFI projects.

Criterion 3—The proposal represents value for public money

For this criterion, applications are expected to include:

• a clear outline of the funding sought, which is consistent with the proposed activities and takes account of:

– logistical parameters such as the size of the region and accessibility of stakeholders;

– the funding profile for Stream 1 of the Fund (see Section 2 of these Guidelines); and

17

– costs associated with reports and activities required by the Funding Agreement (see Section 8 of these Guidelines), and

• the proposed outcomes of the project in terms of the overall project cost, the amount of Commonwealth funding sought, and any contribution of funds from other sources.

Criterion 4—The proposed approach for updating the regional NRM plan is appropriate to the region’s circumstances

For this criterion, applications are expected to describe:

• the expected format in which the regional NRM plan updates will be made with respect to the existing regional NRM plan, or equivalent (e.g. as an addendum to the existing NRM plan, as a single new section to it, or integrated into it);

• how the regional community and other stakeholders (e.g. local and state government, Indigenous groups, Regional Development Australia committees) will be engaged in updating the regional NRM plan;

• the tools, models, data (at an appropriate scale and resolution) and evidence that will be used in updating the regional NRM plan, and the extent to which the updated regional NRM plan will be spatially explicit;

• how the update process will consider jurisdiction-specific regional NRM planning requirements and other relevant planning processes e.g. Regional Development Australia, National Water Initiative, and state plans;

• how previous planning, reviews, audits, experience and knowledge will be used to inform the update process; and

• how the update process will be evaluated and adapted, including appropriate measures of success or key performance indicators.

Assessment of applications will also consider the content and nature of an NRM region’s existing regional NRM plan compared with program objectives and the need for activities and resources to update the regional NRM plan against the Principles.


7. ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONSReceipt and registration of applications

Applicants will be notified by email within 5 working days to confirm the Department’s receipt of their application. Applicants that request to be notified by regular mail can be notified as requested.

The Department will screen applications to:

• confirm whether all eligibility criteria in Section 3 of these Guidelines have been met; and

• determine whether the level of information provided in the application is sufficient to enable a fully informed assessment of the application.

The Department will determine whether applications meet the eligibility criteria. Applications deemed not to meet the eligibility criteria will be excluded by the Department from the assessment process. The Department also reserves the right to, at its absolute discretion, exclude from further consideration those applications that do not contain sufficient information. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications following the Minister’s final funding decision.

Assessment of eligible applications

Eligible applications will be assessed according to the extent to which they meet the assessment criteria (outlined in Section 6 of these Guidelines) by assessors who will comprise Australian Government staff from the Land and Coasts Division of the Department, with input as required from other government agencies and professionals with relevant expertise.

Following application assessment by assessors, an Assessment Committee comprised of senior officers from the Department, other government agencies (including DCCEE) and external advisors will consider the assessments and moderate across applications, including considering recommendations for funding allocations.

There will be scope for the Assessment Committee to make recommendations that specific details of project activities be adjusted, if required, to best achieve the program’s objectives and good value for public money. This will occur through the Funding Agreement finalisation process. For example, the Government reserves the right to:

19

• redirect funds to more relevant and/or cost effective activities or reduce the overall funds to reflect the interests of the Australian Government, and to ensure that, in line with the Principles, the scope of updates to the regional NRM plans is focused on:

– identifying priority landscapes for carbon planting and strategies to build landscape integrity and guiding adaptation and mitigation actions to address climate change impacts on natural systems;

– planning processes that are logical, comprehensive and transparent; and

– using the best available information to develop actions and collaborate with government, community and other stakeholders;

• ensure the timelines for the updates of NRM plans are appropriate and realistic;

• ensure the adequacy of proposed stakeholder engagement;

• ensure the appropriateness of the funding sought relative to the proposed outcomes; and/or

• minimise project risks and ensure appropriate mitigation strategies.

The level of funding recommended for projects will be considered by the Assessment Committee on a case-by-case basis.

In doing so, the Assessment Committee will consider information including:

• the assessors’ assessments of applications;

• the content and nature of an NRM region’s existing regional NRM plan compared with program objectives and the relative need for activities and resources to update the regional NRM plan in line with the Fund’s objectives;

• the overall budget position and possible budget allocations, having regard to the funding profile;

• their own specialist knowledge, experience, skills or observations; and/or

• advice relevant to their consideration from staff elsewhere in the Department and/or other government agencies, or external experts if required.

All Australian Government staff, officers of other government agencies and any professionals who are involved in the review or assessment of the applications will be required to:

• sign, and keep up to date, conflict of interest declarations, which will ensure the appropriate identification and management of any conflicts of interest; and

• comply with the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct.

In assessing applications, the Department may also consider information about an applicant that is, or becomes, known to the Department, including feedback sought from other relevant sources as determined by the Department.


The Department may contact applicants to seek clarification about their application, where the information provided in the application is ambiguous, requires clarification, or when contradictory statements are made within the application. The Department may also seek corrections or completion of errors or omissions which are considered by the Department to be unintentional errors in the application. The Department reserves the right to accept or disregard clarification information provided by applicants and will not allow responses that aim to materially improve or amend an applicant’s original application.

Selection and notification

Following the Assessment Committee’s deliberations, recommendations for funding will be made to the Minister by the Department.

An outline of the project proposals (i.e. project titles and summaries of the proposed work) will be submitted by the Department to the Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board (the Board—www.environment.gov.au/cleanenergyfuture/land-sector/board.html). The Board will consider and provide advice on projects and recommendations in light of its role in advising the Government of the implementation of the Land Sector Package.

Following consideration by the Board, the Minister will make the final decision on the proposed projects. In making the final determination, the Minister may consider other sources of advice to inform this decision.

The Minister’s decision on the selection of successful applicants will be final. Applicants will be advised in writing of the outcome.

Successful applicants will be required to enter into a Funding Agreement with the Department prior to any funds being paid. More information about the Funding Agreement can be found in Section 8 of these Guidelines.

Details of successful applicants will also be listed on the Department’s website in accordance with the Department’s grant reporting requirements (see Section 9 of these Guidelines).

21

8. FUNDING AGREEMENT REQUIREMENTSA Funding Agreement is a performance-based, legally enforceable agreement between the Department and the successful applicant (or their representative organisation if the applicant is not a legal entity) that sets out the terms and conditions governing the funding to be provided under Stream 1 of the Fund. All funding payments for the project are subject to the relevant legal entity entering into and complying with the terms and conditions of a Funding Agreement.

The Department will enter into a Funding Agreement with the successful applicant (or their representative organisation if the applicant is not a legal entity), and that legal entity will be legally responsible for ensuring all of the obligations under the terms and conditions of the Funding Agreement are met. The Department may withdraw the offer of funding to the applicant if the Funding Agreement is not signed by the relevant legal entity within the timeframe determined by the Department. The payment of funding is contingent on the achievement of prescribed milestones as set out in the Funding Agreement.

Funding recipients will be required to participate in working groups, convened by the Department, or other relevant bodies established by the Government, to facilitate further understanding of the Government’s objectives and to share information and lessons learnt between regions.

Successful applicants will be required to acknowledge the Government’s support and funding where applicable.

An example draft Funding Agreement is available at: www.environment.gov.au/cleanenergyfuture/regional-fund and sets out the proposed terms and conditions of receiving funding. Applicants are expected to read the example Funding Agreement in conjunction with these Guidelines and familiarise themselves with all its terms and conditions.




Without limiting the need for applicants to read the example Funding Agreement, some key requirements of the Funding Agreement include:

Project plan and reporting requirements

Funding recipients will be required to submit a comprehensive project plan, including a project budget. This project plan will outline details of the project’s delivery. The Funding Agreement will also require funding recipients to regularly report to the Department on project progress, implementation of the agreed activities and project outcomes. The project plan template is available at: www.environment.gov.au/cleanenergyfuture/regional-fund.

Payments

Payments will be linked to reporting requirements stipulated in the Funding Agreement. Funding recipients will be required to submit progress, annual and final reports to the Department outlining progress against prescribed milestones, the project plan and the financial management and accountability of the project. Templates for providing progress, annual, final and financial reports are available online at: www.environment.gov.au/cleanenergyfuture/regional-fund.

The Department will monitor the progress of projects by assessing these reports and by conducting site visits where necessary. The Department may defer, reduce, or not make payments if the funding recipient has not achieved a milestone or carried out the project to the Department’s satisfaction. Funding recipients will also be required to submit draft and final versions of their updated regional NRM plans to the Department, or other bodies established by the Government, for review.

A successful applicant must not commence work on the project before a Funding Agreement is executed with the Department. Payments will not be backdated for activities that commenced before the execution of the Funding Agreement, and no payments will be made unless a Funding Agreement has been executed. The Funding Agreement will include provision for the Department to seek repayment of funds that are found to have not been spent in accordance with the purposes specified in the Funding Agreement.




23

Project Review

If during the life of the Funding Agreement, a regional NRM organisation undergoes any significant changes to its organisational structure, resources, or circumstances, such as an amalgamation with another regional NRM organisation, the Department may carry out a review and assess whether the project governed by a Funding Agreement continues to represent value for money. Following that review, the Department may:

• adjust the amount of funding payments or the scope of the project to facilitate the efficient completion of updated regional NRM plans; or

• terminate the relevant Funding Agreement if the project is no longer considered to represent value for money.

Taxation

Payments may give rise to assessable income. The amount, if any, included in assessable income will depend on the circumstances of each funding recipient, and the precise terms and conditions under which the entitlement arises. Applicants are encouraged to seek prior independent legal and financial advice about the implications of receiving funding under Stream 1 of the Fund and entering into a Funding Agreement with the Department.

Insurance and indemnity requirements

Successful applicants must ensure that, at the time of entering into the Funding Agreement the relevant legal entity hold the required insurance(s) for the level and duration specified in the Funding Agreement. The Department may require the funding recipient to provide copies of the relevant certificates of currency for their insurance for inspection.

Document retention

A condition of funding will be that funding recipients retain records and accounts as specified in the Funding Agreement.


9. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIESApplicant regional NRM organisations

It is the responsibility of the applicant to:

• fully and properly inform themselves of the requirements of Stream 1 of the Fund, these Guidelines and the requirements of the application process;

• ensure that their application is complete and accurate, as the Department is not obliged to request additional or missing information;

• identify any information contained within their application which they consider should be treated as confidential and provide reasons for the request (noting that the Department will not be in breach of any confidentiality obligations where disclosure is required as outlined further below);

• keep a copy of their application for their own records; and

• inform the Department of any changes to their circumstances which may affect their application or their eligibility for funding under Stream 1 of the Fund.

Applicants are required to declare in writing to the Department where any actual, apparent, or potential conflict of interest exists or might arise in relation to their application that may impact on it, the proposed project, or any Funding Agreement it may enter into with the Department. A conflict of interest is any circumstance in which the applicant or any of the applicant’s personnel has an interest (whether financial or non-financial) or an affiliation that is affecting, will affect, or could be perceived to affect, the applicant’s ability to perform the project, or its obligations under any funding agreement, fairly and independently.

The applicant’s participation in any stage of the application process, or in relation to any matter concerning the process, is at the applicant’s sole risk, cost and expense. The Department will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by an applicant in preparing or lodging an application or in taking part in the process.

The Department will not accept responsibility for any misunderstanding arising from the failure by an applicant to comply with these Guidelines, or arising from any discrepancies, ambiguities, inconsistencies or errors in their application.

Applicants are entirely responsible for the accuracy of all information submitted in their application. If an applicant knowingly provides inadequate, false or misleading information, the application may be excluded from the assessment process.

25

If an applicant discovers any material discrepancy, ambiguity, inconsistency or errors in their application, they must immediately bring it to the attention of the Department by emailing [email protected]. The Department may request further information from an applicant and allow an applicant to remedy any discrepancy, ambiguity, inconsistency or errors in an application. The Department reserves the right to accept or disregard clarification information provided by an applicant, and will not consider clarification information that materially improves or amends an applicant’s original application.

Applicants should be aware that the giving of false or misleading information is a serious offence under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).

The Australian Government’s rights

The Government reserves the right to amend these Guidelines by whatever means it may determine in its absolute discretion and will, where possible, provide reasonable notice of these amendments. The Government also reserves the right to vary, suspend or terminate the assessment process at any time and in its absolute discretion.

The Department will ensure that all staff involved in the application process declare and address any actual, perceived or potential conflict of interest prior to providing any advice or assessment.

Confidentiality and privacy

Applicants must identify any information contained within their application which they consider should be treated as confidential and provide reasons for the request.

The Department will only consider a request for confidentiality where:

• the information to be protected is identified in specific rather than global terms;

• the information is by its nature confidential; or

• disclosure would cause detriment to the parties concerned.

The Department is subject to the legislative and administrative accountability and transparency requirements of the Government, including disclosure to the Parliament and its Committees. Notwithstanding any obligation of confidentiality, the Department may disclose, or allow at any time the disclosure of, any information contained in or relating to any application:

• to its advisers, employees or internal management for purposes related to the application and assessment processes, including to evaluate or otherwise assess applications and manage any resultant Funding Agreement;

• to the responsible Minister;



• in response to a request by a House or a Committee of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia;

• within the Department, or with another agency, where this serves the Australian Government’s legitimate interests;

• where the information is authorised or required by law to be disclosed, noting that information submitted to the Australian Government is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) and its requirements; or

• where the information is already in the public domain otherwise than due to a breach of any relevant confidentiality obligation by the Australian Government.

In submitting an application, applicants consent to the Department using the information submitted for the above mentioned purposes, for administering the Fund and any other incidental or related purpose. The Department will store and use the personal information collected by it in compliance with its obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

Applicants should be aware that if they are successful, Commonwealth policy requires the Department to publish information on its website about the applicant, including but not limited to:

• the name of the person or entity receiving the funding;

• the title and purpose of the project;

• the amount of funding received;

• term of the funding; and

• funding location.

By submitting an application for funding under Stream 1 of the Fund, the applicant consents to publication of the above information by the Department if they are awarded funding under the Fund.

Applicants may access or correct personal information by either emailing the Department at: [email protected] or sending a letter to the Department’s postal address.


27

10. ENQUIRIES AND COMPLAINTSAll enquiries will be handled consistent with the Department’s Service Charter 2011–14, available from the Department’s website www.environment.gov.au.

If an applicant is dissatisfied with the way in which their application has been handled by the Department, the applicant can lodge a complaint by contacting the Department via [email protected] or by mail to:

Stream 1—Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund Biodiversity Conservation Division Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population & Communities GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2601

The complaint will be managed in line with the Department’s Complaints Management Policy. The Department is committed to consistent, fair and confidential handling and to resolving complaints as quickly as possible. Feedback and complaints will be handled impartially and in a confidential manner.

http://www.environment.gov.au



11. CONTACT DETAILSFor more information about Stream 1 of the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund:

• Visit: www.environment.gov.au/cleanenergyfuture/regional-fund.

• Email questions about the application process to [email protected] or phone 1800 008 678.

• To receive regular updates about the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund send “Subscribe” in the subject box of an email to [email protected].

• To receive regular updates about the Land Sector Package send “Subscribe” in the subject box of an email to [email protected].

• For more information about the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future plan, visit www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au.





http://www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au

29

APPENDIX 1: PRINCIPLES FOR THE REGIONAL NRM PLANNING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE FUNDHow the Principles were developed

The Principles for the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund (the Principles) have been developed to ensure that updated regional NRM plans guide decisions relating to the location and nature of carbon abatement projects across the landscape and that vegetation in the landscape is managed to increase resilience, including to climate change. The Principles also emphasise that planning processes should engage stakeholders when considering the potential implications that a growing carbon market may have on the environment, NRM and the community.

These Principles were developed in consultation with an expert working group comprised of key stakeholders, statutory and non-statutory regional NRM organisations, independent scientists and government officials. The Principles underwent consultation with relevant stakeholders including all states and territories and the regional NRM organisations.

It should be noted that funding under Stream 1 of the Fund is only to be applied to updates on matters stated in the Principles.


Table 3: The Principles for the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund

Principle Attributes

1. Plans identify priority landscapes for carbon plantings and strategies to build landscape integrity and guide adaptation and mitigation actions to address climate change impacts on natural ecosystems

(a) Planning processes identify opportunities and management strategies to maximise environmental benefits and landscape resilience, including biodiverse plantings, wildlife corridors, landscape connectivity and protection of remnant vegetation

(b) Planning processes recognise, provide guidance to avoid and mitigate potential risks and adverse impacts associated with carbon sequestration in the landscape, including impacts to biodiversity, water resources and production systems

(c) Planning processes identify priority landscapes for potential carbon sequestration opportunities, mitigation and adaptation in the context of improving landscape connectivity, resilience and wildlife corridors

2. The planning process is logical, comprehensive, and transparent

(a) Planning processes consider previous planning and are consistent with relevant jurisdiction specific planning requirements

(b) Planning processes are informed by a clear understanding of the regional stakeholder and community aspirations and objectives

(c) Planning processes demonstrate a clear understanding of the regional NRM organisation’s business, roles and responsibilities

(d) Planning processes show evidence of cooperation for crossregional climate change impacts and land use planning

(e) Adaptive planning responds to new information and guides improvements as knowledge improves

(f) Planning processes use information at an appropriate scale to spatially identify priority areas in the landscape for carbon sequestration projects and environmental co-benefits

(g) Planning processes demonstrate adaptive planning that responds to current and anticipated climate change research and additional information

31

3. Plans use best available information to develop actions and are based on collaboration with government, community and other stakeholders

(a) Plans demonstrate strategic alignment with relevant state and Commonwealth NRM policies (such as urban and regional planning, matters of National Environmental Significance, National Water Initiative and the National Wildlife Corridors Plan)

(b) Plans meaningfully engage community and stakeholders

(c) Where relevant, plans identify roles and responsibilities for partners in the region

(d) Plans integrate biophysical, socio-economic and climate change information to fine tune strategies for improving landscape connectivity, function and resilience

Guidance for meeting the Principles

The aim of the following guidance information is to assist regional NRM organisations to determine whether their plan is a quality, strategic NRM plan that meets the Principles, and to identify gaps or issues that need to be addressed to ensure plans are updated for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. This section outlines what the Australian Government may take into account when considering the updated regional NRM plans (or equivalent) against the Principles.

This guidance was developed in consultation with participants at an NRM planning workshop, including stakeholders with expertise in NRM, planning and governance. The Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board was also consulted on the guidance information.

The updated regional NRM plans are expected to consider a range of state and Australian Government frameworks, policies, strategies or legislation on topics relating to but not limited to:

• native vegetation• water• wetlands• soils• groundwater• stock routes• biodiversity• salinity• coasts and marine• NRM governance and planning strategies• strategic land use planning• flora, fauna, threatened species• river health• weeds and pest animals

• biosecurity• bushfire• cultural heritage • native title• national parks, marine parks, crown land,

local government• site-based / asset-specific management

plans• agriculture, forestry and fisheries.• Ramsar wetlands and World Heritage Areas

• climate change, including the Clean Energy Future plan, CFI and adaptation frameworks and policies


The following explanations are a guide to updating regional NRM plans and apply only to the process to update plans under Stream 1 of the Fund.

Principle 1: Plans identify priority landscapes for carbon plantings and strategies to build landscape integrity and guide adaptation and mitigation actions to address climate change impacts on natural ecosystems

Identifying priority areas in a region is expected to be a high priority for updated regional NRM plans. Other Australian Government initiatives such as the CFI and the Biodiversity Fund may increase investment in revegetation and environmental management activities in NRM regions. Therefore updated regional NRM plans are expected to provide guidance for the type and location of carbon bio-sequestration opportunities in the relevant landscape to maximise environmental co-benefits and to optimise the environmental, water and agricultural outcomes of CFI projects. These activities may include those undertaken through the Biodiversity Fund and the CFI.

When identifying priority areas, the regional NRM organisations are expected to consider community preferences, aspirations and objectives, and uphold the integrity of the relevant landscape including the local vegetation types and structure, topography, soil type, existing land uses, landscape capacity, landscape function, surface water interception and groundwater utilisation.

To build landscapes that are resilient in a changing climate, regional NRM organisations may achieve this by creating connectivity in the relevant landscape, strategically identifying locations for plantings, and protecting remnant vegetation. The regional NRM organisations may also anticipate and provide avoidance and mitigation strategies to address potential direct, indirect and cumulative impacts associated with these resilience building activities in their regions.

The Australian Government will review the updated regional NRM plans for evidence of adoption of Principle 1 as described in Attributes (a) to (c) below.

Attribute (a): Planning processes identify opportunities and management strategies to maximise environmental benefits and landscape resilience, including biodiverse plantings, wildlife corridors, landscape connectivity and protection of remnant vegetation

The Australian Government would expect to see how evidence and analysis have been used to determine NRM strategies that identify opportunities to maximise environmental benefits and landscape resilience.

33

In adoption of this Attribute, regional NRM plans should be mindful of initiatives such as the CFI and the Biodiversity Fund. This may include spatial identification of landscape features for revegetation and environmental management activities in NRM regions.

Landscape resilience is the capacity of a landscape to respond to changes and disturbances (including extreme weather events), yet retain its basic functions and structures. An updated regional NRM plan may develop management strategies that consider varying scales and types of change and disturbances in the region, and identify opportunities to address the capacity of the landscape to respond to these changes, retain its basic functions and structures, and improve ecological functions.

NRM strategies that achieve environmental benefits and landscape resilience in a changing climate may include:

• protecting biodiversity through maintaining and re-establishing ecosystem functions and building and maintaining connectivity in the landscape;

• managing remnant vegetation at an appropriate scale and level of protection that reflects the area’s vulnerability to threats;

• protecting and rehabilitating wetlands to build landscape resilience (refugia, coastal protection, nutrient and water cycling, etc), and avoiding risk of carbon emissions through clearing/drainage of wetlands;

• reducing threats to biodiversity by guiding investment towards:

– addressing habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation;

– ensuring land and water is managed effectively to prevent the spread of invasive weeds and pest animals; and

– changing fire regimes;

• preserving or enhancing of existing source areas (refugia) for biodiversity; and

• removing barriers to ecosystem migration.

Regional NRM plans should articulate the minimum composition of a biodiverse planting in their region to guide stakeholders towards positive environmental outcomes. Biodiverse plantings are those that reflect the habitat structure, function and composition of native vegetation communities in the adjacent landscape and surrounding area in order to promote ecological integrity, connectivity and function. However, they do not need to be of a ‘conservation restoration’ standard.


Attribute (b): Planning processes recognise, provide guidance to avoid and mitigate potential risks and adverse impacts associated with carbon sequestration in the landscape, including impacts to biodiversity, water resources and production systems

In considering adoption of this Attribute in updated regional NRM plans, the Government is seeking evidence that regional NRM plans recognise and provide guidance to avoid and mitigate potential adverse impacts associated with an increase of carbon sequestration activities in the landscape.

Regional NRM organisations should demonstrate how they will analyse and manage for risks associated with carbon sequestration activities in their region, and provide strategies to avoid and mitigate the indirect, direct and cumulative impacts of these activities. This could be demonstrated through innovative methods, mapping or decision criteria.

Potential impacts to biodiversity may include:

• impacts on water availability to aquatic ecosystems, wetlands and native flora and fauna owing to surface water interception and groundwater utilisation;

• direct and indirect impacts associated with the use of fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides within revegetation or rehabilitation areas;

• further fragmentation of the landscape by introduction of species not appropriate to the region and that do not reflect the attributes of neighbouring native vegetation types;

• introduction of weeds, pest species and pathogens;

• conversion of existing native vegetation communities, for example converting open forest to closed forest communities; and/or

• disturbance and/or degradation of habitat due to works associated with carbon sequestration activities, such as the introduction of machinery into sensitive areas.

The potential conversion of agricultural lands for activities associated with the CFI and the Biodiversity Fund may result in:

• impacts on the community;

• a reduction in economic opportunities associated with agricultural endeavours or ecosystem services; and/or

• a reduction in production impacting on food security or cultural food sources and other products.

35

Potential impacts to water resources associated with carbon sequestration activities, such as revegetation, may include:

• reduction and/or disruption of water availability for the environment and the community;

• impacts on natural watersheds, such as changed flow direction and volume; and/or

• reduction in water quality through increased sediment load and turbidity, introduction of fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides.

Plans should consider the combined impacts of climate change and carbon sequestration activities on biodiversity, water, production and social and cultural systems.

Attribute (c): Planning processes identify priority landscapes for potential carbon sequestration opportunities, mitigation and adaptation in the context of improving landscape connectivity, resilience and wildlife corridors

In considering adoption of this Attribute in updated regional NRM plans, the Government is seeking evidence that regional NRM plans will help guide Government initiatives, such as the CFI and the Biodiversity Fund, by identifying and mapping priority areas for revegetation, rehabilitation and protection of remnant vegetation as well as areas that require protection from potential negative impacts of carbon farming.

This Attribute focuses on the role of regional NRM organisations to logically and transparently identify aspects of the landscape that are preferred for optimising environmental benefits. This may be through connectivity, resilience and wildlife corridors that provide links across the landscape between habitat patches used by plant and animal species. Wildlife corridors are one way of achieving various types of connectivity across landscapes, meeting the diverse needs of plants and animals on multiple scales.

Priority areas are those areas in the region which are best suited for mitigating and/or adapting to climate change while maximising environmental benefits and avoiding negative impacts on the environment. The identification of these landscape priorities should be informed by environmental indicators, science, and effective consultation with land managers, the community and stakeholders. Each region may utilise their preferred user-friendly tools or methods for demonstrating priority areas such as interactive tools, models, mapping or decision criteria.


Consultation may also consider and provide guidance for carbon bio-sequestration, adaptation and mitigation opportunities in the relevant landscape. Carbon sequestration opportunities may include CFI approved projects, biodiverse plantings, preservation of remnant vegetation or avoided deforestation.

Priorities may include:

• areas that create connectivity between remnant vegetation to promote biodiversity benefits;

• areas that build cross-regional linkages or that contribute to large scale wildlife corridors;

• riparian areas that create biodiversity connectivity;

• wetlands, which have high sequestration and storage rates for their area;

• areas protecting source populations;

• areas of marginal agricultural land on which effective revegetation could occur;

• areas of high concentration of biodiversity assets;

• areas of degraded but repairable landscapes;

• areas where soil carbon sequestration could occur; and/or

• areas with ecosystems that are highly vulnerable to climate change.

37

Table 4 below lists the Attributes and typical questions the Government may ask when considering the updated regional NRM plans (or equivalent) against Principle 1.

PRINCIPLE 1. Plans identify priority landscapes for carbon plantings and strategies to build landscape integrity and guide adaptation and mitigation actions to address climate change impacts on natural ecosystems

Attribute Typical questions the Government may ask when considering the updated regional NRM plans (or equivalent) against the Principles and Attributes

(a) Planning processes identify opportunities and management strategies to maximise environmental benefits and landscape resilience, including biodiverse plantings, wildlife corridors, landscape connectivity and protection of remnant vegetation

Was there a structured, systematic and comprehensive process for identifying opportunities to maximise adaptive capacity in the landscape?Has the plan identified opportunities and management strategies to maximise environmental benefits?Was there a structured, systematic and comprehensive process for prioritising biodiverse plantings, landscape connectivity, wildlife corridors, and/or remnant vegetation? Does the plan provide guidance on how disturbances or changes in the region can be considered or addressed?Does the plan identify strategies for climate change mitigation in the landscape and seascape?

(b) Planning processes recognise, provide guidance to avoid and mitigate potential risks and adverse impacts associated with carbon sequestration in the landscape, including impacts to biodiversity, water resources and production systems

Was there a process of determining potential risks and adverse impacts associated with an increase of carbon sequestration activities? Does the plan provide adequate guidance to avoid and mitigate potential impacts to biodiversity, water, production and social and cultural systems?

(c) Planning processes identify priority landscapes for potential carbon sequestration opportunities, mitigation and adaptation in the context of improving landscape connectivity, resilience and wildlife corridors

Was there a structured, systematic and comprehensive process for identifying priority areas in the region for carbon bio-sequestration opportunities?Does the plan provide evidence on how priorities were informed and defined?Did the planning process consider linking carbon sequestration projects with landscape connectivity, resilience and wildlife corridors? Have any opportunities been identified in the planning process for emissions reduction?When identifying priority landscapes, has the plan considered the potential impacts of climate change on the viability of carbon biosequestration activities and adaptation actions?


Principle 2: The planning process is logical, comprehensive, and transparent

The quality of a strategic regional NRM plan depends on the quality of the knowledge and planning processes that underpin it. It is particularly important that regional NRM organisations and their stakeholders understand the role of regional NRM plans and regional NRM organisations in planning for a changing climate. The quality of a plan is demonstrated in its ability to be evaluated and further adapted. A structured, transparent and adaptable planning process should generate a quality plan, investment and actions, as well as a number of other benefits for the region and its partners.

Achieving improvements to regional NRM plans requires the involvement, commitment and effort of multiple parties who manage natural resources. These include landholders, community groups, Indigenous groups, non-government organisations, Landcare groups, local government and industry. A plan should be a document that collaboratively defines the preferred actions and investment aspirations of these parties in the relevant region. It should be the basis for partnerships where groups work together to build resilient ecologically sustainable landscapes, and where neighbouring regional NRM organisations can work together to protect, preserve and manage priority areas.

This means that a regional NRM plan should provide a forum to establish common goals and defining priorities for all parties to work towards. Through two-way information exchange, the plan should both inform and be informed by relevant community values and up-to-date climate change information.

The update of regional NRM plans is expected to build on existing plans to bring about greater alignment and integration with previous and current management of natural resources in the region.

Working collaboratively may involve the alignment of the aims and objectives of plans to identify areas of commonality and difference. One important tool in engaging partners is spatial identification of priorities. For example, spatial representation of priorities may identify preferred areas for carbon sequestration activities and areas to avoid impacts on biodiversity, water resources and prime agricultural production systems. While the regional NRM plan does not alter existing or future land use rights and obligations, it helps to align various policies and can provide guidance for investment and on-ground action. Any changes to land use rights and obligations will need to be implemented through the usual land use planning channels.

39

The Australian Government will review the updated regional NRM plans for evidence of adoption of Principle 2 as described in Attributes (a) to (g) below.

Attribute (a): Planning processes consider previous planning and are consistent with relevant jurisdiction specific planning requirements

Updating the regional NRM plans does not mean starting from the beginning; rather it means building on previous plans.5 The format in which the regional NRM plans are updated may differ depending on state or territory jurisdiction and prior planning processes. For example, if a plan has recently been updated, the regional NRM organisation may prefer to retain the main content of the plan, and update against the Principles by adding an addendum to the plan.

Regional NRM plans should use and build on experience and knowledge gained through planning and implementing previous regional NRM plans, reviews and audits.

Regional NRM plans are expected to consider relevant jurisdiction specific planning requirements, including relevant regional plans (developed by Regional Development Australia Committees), the National Water Initiative and state plans. While regional NRM plans may assist in the implementation of existing planning requirements, the regional NRM plans should not seek to duplicate these requirements.

Attribute (b): Planning processes are informed by a clear understanding of the regional stakeholder and community aspirations and objectives

In considering adoption of this Attribute in updated regional NRM plans, the Government recognises that complete alignment of all stakeholder needs may not be possible. Regional NRM organisations have the responsibility to lead the preparation of regional NRM plans with a partnership approach and in a consultative manner.

The final result should be a planning process that is widely supported and understood by all relevant organisations or sectors.

The plan could develop targets and strategies across the whole landscape, and may include crossregional initiatives with neighbouring NRM regions.

The planning process should consider the ‘win–win’ opportunities from coordinated action, but also the potential risks where alignment or partnerships cannot be successfully negotiated. It should also ensure that stakeholders have the capacity to provide effective input into the process.

5 With the exception of the recently established Cape York Regional NRM Group.


The regional NRM plans should link, where possible, with existing relevant plans and priorities in the community and region to use limited resources and time to maximise efficiency and make the most difference. Groups such as Landcare, Coastcare, Indigenous groups, land councils and traditional owners, local governments, industry, and other non-government organisations are essential parts of the regional capacity to manage our landscapes.

Attribute (c): Planning processes demonstrate a clear understanding of the regional NRM organisation’s business, roles and responsibilities

Understanding of roles and responsibilities may streamline the effort and expand the effectiveness of partners.

Regional NRM organisations should identify their roles and responsibilities ensuring that they are providing advice within their jurisdiction and supporting the values and contribution of voluntary work by local community groups. Regional NRM organisations should also note that direct activities related to mining, roads and urban planning are outside the scope of the activities that may be funded under Stream 1 of the Fund, however engagement with bodies related to these activities may be considered where relevant. Regional NRM plans should support collaborative action and investment which should increase the effectiveness of both the regional NRM organisation and its partners, and may minimise costs in working towards common objectives.

Attribute (d): Planning processes show evidence of cooperation for cross-regional climate change impacts and land use planning

Regional NRM boundaries may cross over common landscapes, catchments, land use types, similar community organisations, local government, or Regional Development Australia boundaries. Similarly, neighbouring regional NRM organisations may share common issues and opportunities for land use planning, management and mitigation and adaptation in response to climate change impacts.

Working collaboratively with neighbouring regional NRM organisations may be beneficial for implementing management strategies, sharing knowledge or expertise, and undertaking actions where joint partnerships benefit the landscape and stakeholders.

Regional NRM organisations could actively seek opportunities to work cooperatively with neighbouring NRM regions to identify priority areas, and expand on existing and future programs that build landscape resilience, such as landscape connectivity and development of wildlife corridors.

Regional NRM organisations could work collaboratively to identify potential cross-boundary risks and adverse impacts associated with carbon sequestration activities in common

41

landscapes, as well as avoidance and mitigation methods. For example, neighbouring NRM regions could work together to manage common watersheds to mitigate impacts of surface water movement, groundwater utilisation and impacts on the environment and community.

Attribute (e): Adaptive planning responds to new information and guides improvements as knowledge improves

Through implementation and monitoring regional NRM organisations should actively seek ways to improve the effectiveness of the regional NRM plan. This may be achieved by seeking opportunities to benefit and complement climate change adaptation, incorporate methods for utilising new information as it becomes available, and considering initiatives for future investment such as the Biodiversity Fund or the CFI.

Ongoing review and adaptive governance can provide a structured process for decision making when continually monitoring and integrating appropriate ecological, water, climate change, social and economic information and for acknowledging the uncertainty of changing information and improvements.

An adaptive plan provides structured links between science, policy, management, social and ecological systems using available information to highlight management opportunities and choices, guide learning, and improve management of natural resources in the region. An adaptive plan may also provide clear baseline information from which to improve in terms of climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Regional NRM plans may assess the capacities of the community and stakeholders to respond to risks and opportunities associated with climate change. This may include the adaptive capacity of industry to support carbon sequestration activities in the region.

A regional NRM plan that responds to new information will address how a review may be able to capture and incorporate improvements for land management practice, changed policies or new opportunities.

Attribute (f): Planning processes use information at an appropriate scale to spatially identify priority areas in the landscape for carbon sequestration projects and environmental co-benefits

Spatial information tools can help with determining and communicating priorities and facilitating alignment towards common goals. They can also give the regional NRM organisations a solid basis for influencing policy and programs developed at state and national scales.


In considering the type and location of carbon sequestration activities and their environmental co-benefits, where possible, spatial tools and information should be used to:

• identify and demonstrate priority areas for carbon sequestration activities, including sequestration plantings and the protection and management of remnant vegetation;

• analyse the landscape to predict and demonstrate potential adverse negative impacts to biodiversity, water resources and agricultural production systems associated with carbon sequestration activities;

• demonstrate areas to be avoided when undertaking carbon sequestration activities in the landscape to avoid and mitigate impacts on biodiversity, water resources and prime agricultural production systems, including consideration of the potential future impacts of climate change;

• identify and demonstrate priority areas needed to build connectivity and protect refugia in the landscape for biodiversity benefits, such as wildlife corridors and the protection of remnant vegetation; and/or

• identify opportunities to work collaboratively with neighbouring NRM regions to build on existing and future activities designed to build landscape resilience.

Regional NRM plans may use spatial information at a scale/resolution that enables effective identification of priority areas relevant to their region. This may include providing a justification of the scale/resolution of spatial information, and identifying the criteria for specifying the selection of a preferred priority area. For example, if a priority area is selected based on its unusually high concentration of biodiversity assets, the spatial resolution should be justified based on its capacity to effectively manage those assets.

It is understood that the capacity of regional NRM organisations to collect spatial information and conduct analysis varies. However, regional NRM organisations may seek to build upon these capacities to enable effective planning at a scale relevant for effective land use planning and management in their region.

Attribute (g): Planning processes demonstrate adaptive planning that responds to current and anticipated climate change research and additional information

There are currently many climate change research initiatives being undertaken around Australia including, state, territory and Commonwealth government funded initiatives. Under Stream 2 of the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund, DCCEE is undertaking a process to improve the accessibility and relevance of climate change information to prepare projections for climatic regions across Australia.

It is important that regional NRM plans use climate change projections and information that is current and the most relevant to their region on an ongoing basis in order to guide best

43

practice land use planning and management. This new information may include climate change resources developed by DCCEE. An adaptive plan should provide a method to enable this for ongoing improvement of land use planning and management.

It is understood that some regional NRM organisations have advanced climate change information that may be of high resolution and directly applicable to their regions. In these cases regional NRM organisations may use the information that is most effective and relevant for land use planning and management in their region. However, care should be taken to avoid ‘false precision’ through the use of high resolution climate change data that does not adequately represent the full spectrum of potential changes.


PRINCIPLE 2. Planning process is logical, comprehensive, and transparent

Attribute Typical questions the Government may ask when considering the updated regional NRM plans (or equivalent) against the Principles

(a) Planning processes consider previous planning and are consistent with relevant jurisdiction specific planning requirements

How was the planning process informed by an evaluation of the previous regional NRM plans and its implementation?Was the plan updated using previous NRM plans?Has the plan identified and used other relevant jurisdictional plans?

(b) Planning processes are informed by a clear understanding of the regional stakeholder and community aspirations and objectives

Was there a plan for engaging affected partners and stakeholders in the planning process?Were stakeholders effectively engaged throughout the planning process?How were Indigenous stakeholders engaged in the planning process?Did the planning process assess adaptive capacities of the community and stakeholders?Did the process build NRM and strategic capability of the major partners and stakeholders?Is the plan concise, accessible to stakeholders, easy to understand and interpret, and meaningful to stakeholders?

(c) Planning processes demonstrate a clear understanding of the regional NRM organisation’s business, roles and responsibilities

Was there a planned and effective process for identifying roles and responsibilities for the regional NRM organisation?Does the plan outline potential future roles and responsibilities of the regional NRM organisation and its partners?


PRINCIPLE 2. Planning process is logical, comprehensive, and transparent


(d) Planning processes show evidence of cooperation for cross-regional climate change impacts and land use planning

Were neighbouring regional NRM organisations engaged in the planning process?Does the plan provide a description of cross-regional linkages and actions?

(e) Adaptive planning responds to new information and guides improvements as knowledge improves

Does the plan outline a process for future adaptation of the regional NRM plan in response to new knowledge, changing circumstances and monitoring, evaluation and reporting plan information?Does the process outline roles and responsibilities, review/check points? Does this process outline how revisions of the regional NRM plan impacts on stakeholders?

(f) Plans use information at an appropriate scale to spatially identify priority areas in the landscape for carbon sequestration projects and environmental co-benefits

Is the spatial information concise and easy to understand and interpret, and meaningful to stakeholders?Does the planning process consider carbon sequestration projects and how stakeholders can be involved in implementation? Did this include consideration of co-benefits and adverse impacts on the landscape?

(g) Plans demonstrate adaptive planning that responds to current and anticipated climate change research and additional information

Does the plan outline a process, and identify triggers, for incorporation of new climate change knowledge and information?Does the plan consider and incorporate climate change projections and information delivered by Stream 2 of the Fund, or other climate change information as appropriate?

45

Principle 3: Plans use best available information to develop actions and are based on collaboration with government, community and other stakeholders

Much of the value in any planning process lies in building improved strategic planning capacity within an organisation and among its partners. The quality of a regional NRM plan is also demonstrated by its ability to be evaluated and further adapted, and the degree to which partners and stakeholders are meaningfully engaged in the process.

Principle 3 focuses on how evidence and analysis may be used to determine the strategies, targets and actions identified in the regional NRM plan. The evidence used should reflect not simply scientific knowledge, but also Indigenous knowledge and local community knowledge, and should integrate social and economic evidence with ecological knowledge.

Regional NRM organisations are well placed to align and to help deliver a range of local, state and national policies, non-statutory and statutory plans, and natural resource management related programs at the regional scale.

This means that a regional NRM plan should both inform and be informed by relevant government policies. The preparation and implementation of these plans may involve both formal and informal collaborations or agreements such as Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with relevant government, community groups, industry, private individuals or NGOs to improve planning processes and outcomes.

The update of regional NRM plans can be an opportunity to bring about greater alignment between government policies, including NRM, water and land use plans, and to represent a more integrated approach to NRM in each region. Alignment may involve mapping the aims and objectives of the various plans to identify areas of commonality and difference. Where policies, community values and the need to maintain resilient landscapes do not align well, the plan should identify areas of commonality and difference and propose ways of achieving better alignment.

This Principle and its Attributes also refer to utilising stakeholder engagement and identification of roles to drive the planning priorities of the regional NRM plan. Which stakeholders are engaged, and how they are engaged, can be tailored to suit the circumstances of a regional NRM plan and appropriately integrated with decision-making tools.

The Government will review the updated regional NRM plans for evidence of adoption of Principle 3 as described in Attributes (a) to (d) below.


Attribute (a): Plans demonstrate strategic alignment with relevant state and Commonwealth NRM policies (such as urban and regional planning, matters of National Environmental Significance, National Water Initiatives and the National Wildlife Corridors Plan)

This Attribute focuses on the role of regional NRM plans to align local, state and national priorities, policies and initiatives at the regional scale for land use, natural resource management and water. Where complete alignment of policies is not possible, the regional NRM organisation may determine the most important policy areas to pursue and the degree of alignment that is feasible, identify the areas of commonality and difference, and design strategies to improve alignment over time.

The regional NRM organisation may develop a process to identify and incorporate national, state/territory and local policies to develop a whole-of-government and community based regional NRM plan.

National policies and initiatives to be considered when updating regional NRM plans include, but are not limited to:

• Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–2030;

• Australia’s draft Native Vegetation Framework;

• the draft National Wildlife Corridors Plan;

• Aquatic Ecosystems toolkit;

• National Water Initiative

• Australia’s Strategy for the National Reserve System 2009–2030; and

• emerging climate change, water, and carbon market agendas.

Updated regional NRM plans cannot contravene relevant legislation. Each regional NRM organisation should consider relevant state or territory and local government policies, legislative processes and initiatives when preparing the update of their regional NRM plan. Spatial data may be a useful tool to better align regional NRM priorities with each policy layer.

Attribute (b): Planning processes meaningfully engage community and stakeholders

Community engagement is a key strength of the regional delivery model. Stakeholder relationships are an evolving process and should be a high priority. It is recommended that an engagement plan should be developed to promote engagement at multiple scales, including with agencies, industry, community and other stakeholders. An engagement plan may demonstrate knowledge of stakeholders and their capacity and needs.

47

Regional NRM plans may be used for collaborative action and investment. There is great potential for regional NRM organisations, Regional Development Australia Committees and local governments to work towards aligning the objectives of community strategic plans and regional NRM plans. Therefore, the planning process should meaningfully engage those stakeholders who affect regional capacity to manage our landscapes, or whose activities have an influence on landscape health and the likelihood of the regional NRM plan being effectively implemented. These stakeholders might include:

• local, state or territory and Australian governments;

• Landcare, Coastcare, non-government organisations, and other community groups;

• Indigenous and non-Indigenous land managers;

• industry;

• CFI proponents; and

• the scientific community.

Further, the mechanisms for stakeholder engagement should be appropriate to different stakeholders and may include, but are not limited to: surveys and questionnaires; field days for education and information sharing; meetings and workshops; consultation and collaborative forums on priority areas; traditional owner engagement; and engagement with stakeholder to spatially identify priority areas. Agreements may strengthen collaborative actions and maximise environmental outcomes.

Governments and communities should use the regional NRM plan update process as a shared forum for discussing risks and identifying management strategies relating to climate change and variability, and other major shocks and drivers that may affect their landscapes.

Attribute (c): Where relevant, plans identify roles and responsibilities for partners in the region

Getting wide support for regional NRM planning requires a partnership approach. The final result should be that the regional NRM plan is understood by all relevant organisations or sectors, and it should include targets and strategies that are beyond the scope of the regional NRM organisation alone to implement.

Ideally, the updated regional NRM plan should reflect an understanding of roles and responsibilities at a strategic level for major partners and stakeholders to ensure effective implementation. A regional NRM plan should demonstrate an understanding of the regional NRM organisation’s business and other institutional responsibilities at all scales.


While the planning process should consider ‘win win’ opportunities from coordinated action, it should also consider the potential risks where alignment or partnerships cannot be successfully negotiated.

Attribute (d): Plans integrate biophysical, socio-economic and climate change information to fine tune strategies for improving landscape connectivity, function and resilience

This Attribute focuses on how information is used to analyse what is happening in the region, and determine what the regional NRM organisation and its partners can do to improve landscape connectivity, function and resilience. In addressing this Attribute, planners should use spatial information and decision-making tools to assist in analysing and integrating biophysical, socioeconomic, and climate change information to identify and describe their region’s systems and to determine priorities.

Climate change, biophysical and socio-economic variations will affect the composition, structure and functioning of native vegetation by altering species habitat thresholds, modifying threatening processes, and affecting landscape integrity.

Managing for connectivity, function and resilience involves promoting diversity and adaptability in the landscape, and building capacity to adapt and change. Through consultation, these concepts can be tailored to suit the needs of an individual region which can then be appropriately reflected in regional NRM plans using decision-making tools.

Where policies, community values and the need to build and maintain resilient landscapes do not align well, the NRM plan should identify areas of commonality and difference and propose ways of achieving better alignment.

Some methods that can assist in undertaking integrated planning include:

• management of trends through identifying and monitoring leading indicators;

• analysis of the social-economic system, their drivers and controlling variables, feedbacks and thresholds, and their linkages with biophysical systems at the regional scale;

• identification of controlling variables, feedbacks and thresholds and prioritisation of those that are critical for maintaining the landscape in a healthy, productive state;

• estimates of the consequences for landscape connectivity, function and resilience if key biophysical, socio-economic or climate change thresholds are crossed; and

• identification of management actions and targets likely to keep the landscape within critical thresholds, and prioritising these.

49


Principle 3. Plans use best available information to develop actions and are based on collaboration with government, community and other stakeholders


(a) Plans demonstrate strategic alignment with relevant state and Commonwealth NRM policies (such as urban and regional planning, matters of National Environmental Significance, National Water Initiative and the National Wildlife Corridors Plan)

Does the plan document and justify the degree of alignment with relevant NRM, climate change, water and land use policies? Does the plan identify strategies to improve alignment between relevant policies and/or priorities determined in the regional NRM plan?

(b) Plans meaningfully engage community and stakeholders

Was there a plan for engaging partners and stakeholders (government, community and industry) in the planning process (i.e. who to involve, when and why, and how to manage expectations)? Were partners and stakeholders effectively engaged throughout the planning process? Did the process build on the NRM and strategic capabilities of the partners and stakeholders?

(c) Where relevant, plans identify roles and responsibilities for partners in the region

Was there a planned and effective process for identifying roles and responsibilities in Regional NRM Plan implementation with stakeholders? Did the planning process include consideration of synergies between partners? Does the plan outline an understanding of potential or agreed roles and responsibilities of major partners and stakeholders in implementation?Does the plan identify risks and mitigation actions to address lack of alignment for outlining the roles and responsibilities with major partners and stakeholders?

d) Plans integrate biophysical, socio-economic and climate change information to fine tune strategies for improving landscape connectivity, function and resilience

Does the plan develop strategies for improving landscape connectivity, function and resilience?Does the plan integrate best available biophysical information?Does the plan integrate best available socio-economic information?Does the plan integrate best available climate change information?Does the plan integrate best available community and cultural knowledge?


APPENDIX 2: LIST OF REGIONAL NRM ORGANISATIONSAustralian Capital Territory• ACT Natural Resource Management CouncilNew South Wales• Border Rivers–Gwydir Catchment Management Authority• Central West Catchment Management Authority• Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment Management Authority• Hunter–Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority• Lachlan Catchment Management Authority• Murray Catchment Management Authority• Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority• Namoi Catchment Management Authority• Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority• Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority• Western Catchment Management AuthorityNorthern Territory• Territory Natural Resource ManagementQueensland• Queensland Murray Darling Committee• NQ Dry Tropics• Burnett Mary Regional Group• Cape York NRM• Condamine Alliance• Desert Channels Queensland• Fitzroy Basin Association• Reef Catchments (Mackay, Whitsunday, Isaac) • Northern Gulf Resource Management Group• South East Queensland Catchments• Southern Gulf Catchments• South West NRM• Torres Strait Regional Authority • Terrain NRM

51

South Australia• Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board• Alinytjara Wilurara Natural Resources Management Board• Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board• Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board• Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board• SA Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board• SA Murray Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board• South East Natural Resources Management Board Tasmania• NRM North• Cradle Coast NRM• NRM South Victoria• Corangamite Catchment Management Authority• East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority• Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority• Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority• Mallee Catchment Management Authority• North Central Catchment Management Authority• North East Catchment Management Authority• Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority• West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority• Wimmera Catchment Management AuthorityWestern Australia• Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management Inc• Northern Agricultural Catchments Council• Rangelands NRM Co-ordinating Group• South Coast Natural Resource Management• South West Catchments Council• Perth Region NRM

LSP

021.

0912

stream 1 of the regional natural resource management...

Documents