Urban Rivers and Catchments Program Grant Applications Open

Help us bring life back to our rivers, creeks, wetlands and waterways in urban, outer urban and regional centres in Australia.

Apply now for the 2023 Urban Rivers and Catchments Program.

Up to $109 million of funding is available for projects. There are 2 funding streams:

• Stream 1 - $51 million for projects between $150,000 to $2 million. These grants are for small to medium sized community-based projects, and will cover up to 100% of eligible expenditure, with at least 75% of the funds used for on-ground activities.
• Stream 2 - $58 million for projects between $2 million to $10 million. These grants require a dollar-for-dollar matching cash contribution for the grant amount. You'll also need to direct at least 85% of the eligible project grant expenditure to on-ground activities.

Applications are welcome for projects that include, but are not limited to:

• riverbank revegetation to establish habitat and habitat 'corridors' for native wildlife
• construction of chain of ponds or swales/biofilters that remove nutrient and sediment pollution in stormwater to benefit aquatic species and significant aquatic areas
• conversion of concrete drainage channels into 'living streams', re-engineering highly altered channels to make them more varied, sinuous, and vegetated i.e. channel re-naturalisation
• re-establishment of in-stream connectivity and 'pathways' to support aquatic native species movements and migrations
• prevention of stormwater-sourced plastic entering aquatic and marine environments with long term solutions like litter traps.

The Urban Rivers and Catchments Program aims to leave Australia's environment in a better state and build climate resilience, as part of the government's Nature Positive agenda.

Applications close 13 February 2024.