Built Heritage Grants Scheme

Conservation Program

• The property must be permanently registered on the Tasmanian Heritage Register (THR). (THR status can be confirmed on the LIST)
• The applicant must provide proof of authority to undertake the works:
  • as the legal custodian of the property; or
  • have the written support of the owners of the site, if you are a manager or lessee;
• AND
  • have the written support of all owners or the owners’ corporation, if the site has multiple owners.
• The project funding is for works to preserve, repair, restore or reconstruct historically significant built fabric (refer Eligible activities and expenditure for details).

For clarity, the following are ineligible to apply to the Conservation Program.

• If the applicant or heritage property has received grant funding under any Program of the Grants Scheme, they will be ineligible for further funding under the Grants Scheme until the funds received have been acquitted.
• Local, State and Commonwealth governments, and their entities are ineligible to apply for or receive funding under this Program.
• The National Trust of Australia (Tasmania) has been provided funding in 2023-24, and therefore will not be eligible for further funding in Round 1 of this Grants Scheme but will be eligible to apply to future rounds.

Activation Program

1.Building Activation

• The property must be permanently registered on the Tasmanian Heritage Register (THR) or be heritage-listed in a Tasmanian Local Planning Scheme. (THR status can be confirmed on the LIST. Contact your local council for confirmation of listing on local planning schemes)
• The applicant must provide proof of authority to undertake the works:
  • as the legal custodian of the property; or
  • have the written support of the owners of the site, if you are a manager or lessee;
• AND
  • have the written support of all owners or the owners’ corporation, if the site has multiple owners
• The overall project will increase the productive use of the building, particularly with respect to strengthening regional communities and/or growing visitor demand for Tasmania.
• The project funding is for works to preserve, repair, restore or reconstruct historically significant built fabric as a component of a project for the adaptation or adaptive re-use of a property that is currently disused or underused (refer Eligible activities and expenditure for details).

2.Community Activation

• The applicant must be a Tasmanian-based organisation with an ABN.
• The project will increase community support for Tasmania’s built heritage.
• The project funding is for an event, community projects or interpretation initiative (refer Eligible activities and expenditure for details).

3.Skills Activation

• The applicant must be a Tasmanian-based organisation with an ABN.
• The project will contribute to the development of skills (trade or professional) relating to the conservation of built heritage within Tasmania.
• The project funding is for heritage skills development-related activities (refer Eligible activities and expenditure for details).

For clarity, the following are ineligible to apply to the Activation Program.

• If the applicant or heritage property has received grant funding under any Program of the Grants Scheme, they will be ineligible for further funding under the Grants Scheme until the funds received have been acquitted.
• Local governments are:

1. 1. ineligible to apply or receive funding under Project Group A (Building Activation)
   2. eligible to apply and receive funding under Project Group B (Community Activation) and Project Group C (Skills Activation).

• State and Commonwealth governments, including government business enterprises are ineligible to apply for or receive funding under this Program.
• The National Trust of Australia (Tasmania) has been provided funding in 2023-24, and therefore will not be eligible for further funding in Round 1 of this Grants Scheme but will be eligible to apply to future rounds.

See the guidelines for full details of organisations eligible for BHGS support.

Conservation Program Eligible Expenditure:

• External labour (contractors) working directly on the project
• Expert advice directly related to the project
• Materials used directly on the project
• External equipment hire used directly on the project
• Other expenses directly related to the project

Ineligible Expenditure:

• Any expenditure not directly related to the project
• Labour provided by the applicant (co-investment) External supervision or project management
• Conservation management plans
• Tools
• Equipment operation costs provided by the applicant (co-investment)
• Capital expenditure (purchase of assets)
• Administration
• Communications and promotional activities
• Site acquisition and rehabilitation costs
• Fees to obtain planning, environmental or other regulatory approvals
• Costs incurred due to non-compliance with legislation
• Expenditure incurred prior to the signing of the grant agreement
• Non-cash expenses such as provisions and depreciation
• GST payments
• Contingency allowances

Activation Program Eligible Expenditure:

• External labour (contractors) working directly on the project
• Expert advice directly related to the project
• Materials used directly on the project
• External equipment hire used directly on the project
• Other expenses directly related to the project Communications and promotional activities (for Community Activation projects only)

Ineligible Expenditure:

• Any expenditure not directly related to the project
• Labour provided by the applicant (co-investment) External supervision or project management
• Conservation management plans
• Tools
• Equipment operation costs provided by the applicant (co-investment)
• Capital expenditure (purchase of assets)
• Administration
• Communications and promotional activities (for Building Activation and Skills Activation projects
• Site acquisition and rehabilitation costs
• Fees to obtain planning, environmental or other regulatory approvals
• Costs incurred due to non-compliance with legislation
• Expenditure incurred prior to the signing of the grant agreement
• Non-cash expenses such as provisions and depreciation
• GST payments
• Contingency allowances

See the guidelines for full details of expenditure eligible for BHGS support.

Conservation Program

Primary criteria:

• Urgency of the works
• Risk of loss of heritage fabric if work not done
• Impact of the works on the heritage values
• Part of a broader, planned conservation project

Secondary criteria:

• Project readiness
• Co-investment
• Quality of the application and capacity of the applicant to deliver
• Significance of the place

Activation Program

1.Building Activation Primary criteria

• Increase in productive use of the building
• Risk of loss of heritage fabric if work not done
• Impact of the works on the heritage values
• Outcomes to be achieved (and measurement)

Secondary criteria:

• Heritage skills used and/or heritage skills training opportunity created
• Co-investment
• Quality of the application and capacity of the applicant to deliver
• Significance of the place

2.Community Activation Primary criteria

• Importance of the funding to the activity
• Activity reach and compatibility
• Collaboration
• Outcomes to be achieved (and measurement)

Secondary criteria:

• Previous experience successfully delivering a similar activity
• Co-investment
• Quality of the application and capacity of the applicant to deliver

3.Skills Activation Primary criteria

• Importance of the funding to the activity
• Sustainability of the program model
• Collaboration
• Outcomes to be achieved (and measurement)

Secondary criteria:

• Previous experience successfully delivering a similar activity
• Co-investment
• Quality of the application and capacity of the applicant to deliver

See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria.

Applicants must:

• Read and understand the guidelines.
• Ensure eligibility for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria will not be considered.
• Deliver the project as outlined in the application.
• Provide complete information requirements.

Ensure your project complies with applicable legislation and regulations

• If your project involves works to a heritage-registered property, it must still comply with relevant legislation and regulations (conditions and processes). Examples of legislation and regulations that may be applicable, include:

1. 1. Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995
   2. Land Use Planning Approval Act 1993
   3. Building Act 2016

• Works to heritage places also need to ensure the historic cultural heritage values of the place are retained or enhanced. Reference information includes:

1. 1. The Tasmanian Heritage Council’s Works Guidelines
   2. The Burra Charter (The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance 2013)

Consider if your project requires works approval

• Where the project includes works to a state heritage-registered place, works approval in the form of a Certificate of Exemption or Discretionary Permit may be required.
• Ideally, these approvals should be obtained through Heritage Tasmania prior to submitting your application.
• If works approval has not been obtained, or still in progress, at the time of application, the applicant will be required to provide evidence of how their project will meet the relevant criteria stated in the Tasmanian Heritage Council’s Works Guidelines, as part of their application. The eligibility of those applications may involve consideration of the information provided.
• For all cases, where an offer of funding is made, evidence of a Certificate of Exemption or Discretionary Permit must have been received within 30 days of the offer date, or the offer will be automatically withdrawn.
• Heritage works advice is available for potential applicants via Heritage Tasmania’s Works Advisory Team (contact details provided on page 2 of the guidelines).

Quotes

You will need to provide quotes for all expenditure included in your grant request. Quotes for heritage building works will need to be supplied by a suitably qualified and licensed tradesperson/professional. All quotes must clearly show any GST payable and must be no older than six months.

The requirement for quotes is different for each Program:

• Conservation Program: You must provide at least one quote for each expenditure item listed in your budget.
• Activation Program: You should provide at least two quotes for each expenditure item listed in your budget. If you are unable to secure a second quote, you will need to explain the steps you have taken to secure a second quote, and the reason/s why you have been unable to.

Budget

Conservation Program: You will need to provide a budget showing all proposed expenditure items.

Activation Program: You will need to provide a detailed budget showing all proposed expenditure items, and the income source for each (i.e. Grants Scheme, co-investment (cash), co-investment (in-kind).

See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.

To be accepted, an application must be submitted online via the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) Grants Portal.

Register your interest here with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this program and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.