Grants to support new long-rotation softwood and hardwood plantation forests and assist to respond to the projected growth in demand for domestically sourced timber resources.
On this page you will find
What is the Support Plantation Establishment Program?
The Support Plantation Establishment Program (the program) will run over 4 years from 2023–24 to 2026–27. The funding will support the establishment of new long-rotation softwood and hardwood plantation forests and assist the sector to respond to the projected growth in demand for domestically sourced timber resources.
Through focusing on long-rotation plantation forests , the program’s key intended outcomes are to increase domestic timber supply, particularly construction and manufacturing timber resources, and to contribute to Australia’s carbon emissions reduction commitments.
Support Plantation Establishment Program level of support
Grants
The Australian Government will provide funding of $2,000 (GST exclusive) per 1 hectare of new long-rotation plantation forest established.
- The minimum grant amount is $40,000.
- There is no maximum grant amount, provided grant funding is available.
Co-contribution
- Grantees are required to provide a co-contribution at least equal to the grant amount awarded. See section 2 of the program guidelines for further details on how this can be demonstrated.
Support Plantation Establishment Program important dates
Grant applications for Round 3 are now open and will close on 5 November 2025. Round 3 is made up of 6 batches:
- Batch 3 will be open from 11 February 2025 to 8 May 2025.
- Batch 4 will be open from 8 May 2025 to 17 July 2025.
- Batch 5 will be open from 17 July 2025 to 24 September 2025.
- Batch 6 will be open from 24 September 2025 to 5 November 2025.
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Support Plantation Establishment Program objectives and outcomes
The objectives of the SPE program are to:
- increase future plantation forest resources available for processing, as well as for plantation forest management, harvesting and haulage employment
- support private industry, First Nations businesses, farm foresters and state and territory forestry bodies to expand the Australian plantation forest estate
- contribute to meeting Australia’s carbon emission reduction targets, including under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Kyoto Protocol to the Climate Change Convention
The intended outcomes of the program are to:
- increase domestic timber supply, particularly construction and manufacturing timber resources, to contribute to the demands of the Australian market
- support private industry, First Nations businesses, farm foresters and state and territory forestry bodies to reduce their carbon footprint by storing carbon in plantation trees and contribute to Australia’s carbon emission reduction targets
- support the retention or creation of regional jobs and support for regional communities
Projects eligible for Support Plantation Establishment Program support
Projects must:
- be a long‑rotation new plantation forest on previously cleared land that has not been used as plantation or native forest for the last 7 years
- provide a co‑contribution at least equal to the grant amount awarded, which can be demonstrated by the land the new plantation forests will be established on, financial means, or state, territory, or local grant funding
- have a Plantation Management Plan endorsed by a suitably qualified forestry professional (refer to section 2 and the attached guidance material for further details)
- not have undertaken planting activities for the project before submitting your application to GrantConnect.
See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible projects.
Activities and expenditure eligible for Support Plantation Establishment Program support
Eligible grant activities can include:
- preparation of the plantation forest site, including clearing and removal of vegetation on land (not including broad land clearing)
- purchase and planting of seedlings
- payment of labour and contract planting and site preparation fees
- other working capital (including establishment fertiliser and herbicide treatment).
Eligible expenditure items include the activities listed above and any other activities agreed through the Activity Work Plan.
You cannot use the grant for the following activities:
- purchase of land
- major capital expenditure
- the covering of retrospective costs
- costs incurred in the preparation of a grant application or related documentation
- subsidy of general ongoing administration of an organisation such as electricity, phone and rent
- construction/capital works
- domestic or overseas travel
- replanting forests within 7 years of harvesting or post-bushfire clearing
- fencing and roading
- installation of an irrigation or drainage system
See the guidelines for full details of activities and expenditure eligible for SPE support.
Other Support Plantation Establishment Program important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Support Plantation Establishment Program support
The following entity types are eligible to apply:
- Company
- Cooperative
- Corporate State or Territory Entity
- Incorporated Association
- Indigenous Corporation
- Partnership
- Sole Trader
Trustee applications must have an eligible entity type as listed above.
Applications from consortia are acceptable, as long as you have a lead applicant who is solely accountable to the Commonwealth for the delivery of grant activities and is an eligible entity as per the list above. Eligible organisations can form a consortium with ineligible organisations.
Entities must also:
- have an ABN
- be permanent residents or citizens of Australia (for sole traders and partnerships)
- have an account with an Australian financial institution
You are not eligible to apply if you are:
- an organisation or individual, or your project partner is an organisation or individual, currently under investigation for prohibited acts under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or any similar state or territory legislation
- an organisation or individual, or your project partner is an organisation or individual, currently under investigation for prohibited acts under the Fair Work Act 2009 or any similar state or territory legislation
- an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s website on the list of ‘Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme’
- an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the Workplace Gender Equality Agency website non-compliant list
- Corporate Commonwealth Entity
- International Entity
- Local Government
- Non‑corporate Commonwealth Entity
- Non‑corporate Commonwealth Statutory Authority
- Non‑corporate State or Territory Entity
- Non‑corporate State or Territory Statutory Authority
- Person
- Statutory Entity
- Unincorporated Association.
See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible organisations.
Support Plantation Establishment Program assessment process
The SPE program is a demand driven grant process based on the eligibility criteria as set out in the guidelines.
Eligible applications will be considered successful provided sufficient grant funding is available. If total requested funding exceeds the funding available, the department will award grants to eligible applicants on a first come first serve basis (in the order in which they were received per batch).
Applicants may be subject to a financial viability assessment. The financial viability assessment forms part of the risk mitigation strategy and can include:
- establishing whether relevant persons in your organisation have any adverse business history (for example, current or past bankruptcy)
- assessing the financial health of an entity.
See the guidelines for full details of the selection process.
How do I get the Support Plantation Establishment Program?
You should read and understand the guidelines.
You need to ensure you are eligible for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be considered.
Successful applicants will demonstrate:
- a demand for the plantation investment exists
- how the project increases future plantation forest resources available for processing
- encourages private industry investment, First Nations and farm foresters engagement
- contributes to decreasing Australia’s carbon emission reduction targets
- supports the retention or creation of jobs and support for regional communities
- a sound and justifiable budget including all financial contributions
- the capacity and capability to deliver the project in full within the agreed timeframe
Information to prepare for the Support Plantation Establishment Program application
The following documents must be attached to your application:
- A Plantation Management Plan (PMP) – guidance document provided.
- A Plantation Management Plan Endorsement Coversheet endorsed by a suitably qualified forestry professional that outlines how the Plantation Management Plan’s requirements in section 2 have been met – mandatory template provided.
- A clear time-stamped satellite image of the site from 7 years prior to the time of application.
- A clear time-stamped satellite image of the site from as recently as possible and no later than 2 years prior to the time of application.
- An indicative budget that demonstrates how grant funding and any financial co-contributions provided by the grantee will be spent over the project’s length – mandatory template provided.
- If applicable, a valuation of the land that will be used to establish the plantation forest. This land valuation must have been received within 5 years of the application’s submission date and must include the land size in hectares.
- If applicable, a letter of support signed by each of the consortia partners (required for joint [consortia] applicants only – refer to section 6.2 of the guidelines for details). All letters of support must be consolidated into one document before attaching to your application.
- If applicable, evidence of a state-based grant funding arrangement (for example, a letter of grant offer outlining the funding amount or a grant agreement).
Some organisations may want to join together as a consortium to deliver a project. The application must identify all other members of the consortium and include a letter of support from each of the partners (consolidated into one document).
See the guidelines for full details of information requirements and the ‘Guidance for meeting the requirements of the Plantation Management Plan’ for assistance in preparing the PMP.
Applying for the Support Plantation Establishment Program
Complete the online application form and submit to the Community Grants Hub.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Support Plantation Establishment Program resources
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