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.
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What is the Support Plantation Establishment Program (SPEP)?
The Support Plantation Establishment Program (SPE) focuses on establishing new long-rotation softwood and hardwood plantation forests.
Activities supported under previous rounds 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.
Support Plantation Establishment Program level of support
- Total Round 4 funding: Up to $14.73 million.
- Grant funding: Up to $2,000 per hectare.
- Minimum grant: $40,000.
- Maximum grant: No fixed maximum, subject to available funding.
- Co-contribution: At least equal to the grant amount awarded (1:1 matching contribution).
- Co-contribution may be demonstrated through land value, financial contributions or state, territory or local government grants.
- Grant period: 12 months to 3 years.
- Projects must be completed by 30 June 2029.
Support Plantation Establishment Program objectives and outcomes
The objectives of the SPEP are to:
- Support the establishment of new long-rotation softwood and hardwood plantation forests in Australia.
- Increase future domestic timber resources to meet projected demand.
- Strengthen Australia’s forestry industry and domestic timber production.
- Contribute to Australia’s carbon emissions reduction commitments.
The intended outcomes of the program are to:
- Increase domestic timber supply, particularly construction and manufacturing timber resources.
- Support the forestry sector in responding to growing demand for domestically sourced timber.
- Expand Australia’s long-rotation plantation forest estate.
Projects eligible for Support Plantation Establishment Program support
Round 4 supports projects involving the establishment of new long-rotation softwood and hardwood plantation forests in Australia.
Projects must:
- Establish a new long-rotation softwood or hardwood plantation forest.
- Cover a minimum plantation area of 20 hectares.
- Contribute to increasing Australia’s future domestic timber supply.
- Complete grant-funded activities by 30 June 2029.
- Projects must establish new long-rotation softwood or hardwood plantations on previously cleared land.
- Land must not have been used as plantation or native forest during the previous seven years.
- Multiple plantation sites are permitted, provided they total at least 20 hectares and are within an economically viable distance of one another.
- Projects must have a Plantation Management Plan endorsed by a suitably qualified forestry professional.
- Planting activities must not commence before the application is submitted.
Activities and expenditure eligible for Support Plantation Establishment Program support
Eligible activities include:
- Site preparation, excluding broad land clearing.
- Purchase and planting of seedlings.
- Labour, contract planting and site preparation fees.
- Establishment fertiliser and herbicide treatment.
- Other activities agreed through the Activity Work Plan.
Ineligible activities include:
- Land purchases.
- Major capital expenditure.
- Retrospective costs.
- Grant application preparation costs.
- General ongoing administration.
- Construction and capital works.
- Domestic and overseas travel.
- Fencing and road construction.
- Irrigation and drainage systems.
- Replanting forests within seven years of harvesting or bushfire.
- Establishment or replanting of areas previously funded under the program.
Other Support Plantation Establishment Program important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Support Plantation Establishment Program support
Eligible applicants include:
- Companies.
- Cooperatives.
- Corporate state or territory entities.
- Incorporated associations.
- Indigenous corporations.
- Partnerships.
- Sole traders.
- Trustees applying on behalf of trusts, provided the trustee has an eligible entity type.
- Consortia with an eligible lead applicant.
Additional requirements:
- Applicants must have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Applicants must have an account with an Australian financial institution.
- Sole traders and partnerships must meet Australian citizenship or permanent residency requirements.
- Local governments, unincorporated associations and other excluded entity types cannot apply as lead applicants.
- Additional exclusions and compliance requirements apply under the guidelines.
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Support Plantation Establishment Program assessment process
- Applications are assessed through a demand-driven, eligibility-based process.
- There are no weighted assessment criteria.
- Applications are reviewed against the published eligibility requirements.
- Eligible applications may be approved, subject to available funding.
- If demand exceeds available funding, eligible applicants are funded on a first-come, first-served basis within each batch.
- Applicants may undergo financial viability assessments.
- Final funding decisions are made by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry or their delegate.
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
They will also:
- prepare an endorsed Plantation Management Plan.
- demonstrate the required matching co-contribution.
- provide evidence of the proposed plantation site’s land-use history.
- demonstrate the site’s economic viability for timber production.
- ensure the project meets all eligibility requirements and mandatory documentation requirements.
Information to prepare for the Support Plantation Establishment Program application
Here are the following application requirements:
- Plantation Management Plan.
- Plantation Management Plan Endorsement Coversheet signed by a suitably qualified forestry professional, using the mandatory template.
- Time-stamped satellite imagery from seven years before application.
- Recent time-stamped satellite imagery no older than two years.
- Indicative project budget using the mandatory template.
- Land valuation obtained within the previous five years, if contributing land.
- Consortium partner letters of support, if applicable.
- Evidence of other government grant funding, if applicable.
- All mandatory attachments must be provided using the prescribed templates where required.
- Each attachment must not exceed 2 MB.
Applying for the Support Plantation Establishment Program
Applications must be submitted online through GrantConnect.
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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