Tourism Emissions Reduction Grant Program

Grants will be used to implement carbon reduction projects that align with one or more of the following themes:

1. Transport

• Support transition to lower emissions vehicles, including the purchase of battery electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid vehicles.

2. Waste reduction

• Support reduction of waste (including organic) to landfill, including projects that improve waste management techniques (such as community recycling or industrial compost bins), improvement of supply chain or ‘purchased good and services’ (such as minimising packaging).

3. Training and development

• Support training for business owners and/or employees to undertake sustainability or carbon accounting courses to support the business in its carbon reduction journey.

4. Technology, equipment, or systems

• Support purchase and installation of new low emissions technology and/or equipment, such as the implementation of carbon monitoring systems or replacing a gas cooktop with an induction cooktop

To be eligible, you must:

• Provide proof that the applicant has completed an emissions/carbon audit report, including the baseline inventory of the business’s emissions. The emissions/carbon auditing report should also include a list of priority emissions reduction projects (that include the project/s identified in the grant application) as part of an emissions reduction plan.
• Be a tourism business, which means the provision of goods and services where those goods and services are provided directly to persons who are visiting or travelling in Tasmania on holiday. For example, but not limited to, tour and transport operators, attractions, experiences, festivals and events, visitor information services, business event venues, wineries, distilleries and breweries, and accommodation; OR
• Be a hospitality business, which must offer in-house (seated) dining or drinks service and be a recognised hospitality business, where a main function is hospitality services. For example, a restaurant, café, bar or pub.
• Be registered for tax purposes with an active Australian Business Number (ABN) on or before 1 July 2022. If the Applicant is a Trust, the Trustee as the proper Applicant must meet this requirement.
• Be an established business currently operating in Tasmania at the time of submitting the application.
• Be able to demonstrate an annual business sales turnover of:
  1. Small business – less than $10 million in financial year 2022-23.
  2. Medium to large – equal or more than $10 million in the financial year 2022-23.
• Be able to contribute at least one third of the total project costs as a cash contribution

You are not eligible to apply if you are from:

• Any business that is trading insolvent, under external administration or bankruptcy.
• Investment entities that solely generate passive turnover from residential and commercial property investment rentals.
• Businesses that are not currently operating within Tasmania at the time of submitting an application.
• Businesses that do not meet the definition of a tourism business or a hospitality business.
• Businesses without a physical presence in Tasmania.
• Any business that submits an application without the required supporting evidence.
• Local, state or Australian Government entities.
• Sporting, community organisations and service clubs
• Businesses proposing to utilise program funds for projects that have already been or will be funded by a government body or third-party organisation/business

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

Eligible expenditure includes, but is not limited to:

• Costs and purchases associated with the delivery of an eligible project, as outlined in “Project Themes”
• Salaries directly related to the delivery of an eligible project, as outlined in “Project Themes”

Ineligible expenditure includes, but is not limited to:

• Projects that cannot commence by January 2024 and be completed within 12 months of commencement.
• Usual or ongoing operating costs including rent, utilities, cleaning, maintenance, and repairs.
• Staff salaries that are not related to the delivery of the project.
• Purchases for the business that are considered a normal operating expense.
• Prizes for competitions.
• Routine or cyclical maintenance works with no energy or emission reduction benefits.
• Projects that do not meet regulatory or planning requirements.
• Lease or purchase of land.
• Permits, licensing, approval costs.
• Retrospective activity (related or un-related to the approved project).
• Any project, project enhancement or extension that has already been funded or will be funded by a government body or third-party organisation.
• Pre-construction (site preparation) such as site clearing, earthworks or site accessibility works.
• Repair of facilities damaged by vandalism, fire, or other natural disasters.
• Legal fees including obtaining legal/professional advice in the execution and/or management of this funding agreement, and/or fees associated with the administration of trusts.
• Funding to promote the applicant business and its usual activities.
• Travel, accommodation, memberships and conferences that are not related to delivering the identified project activity.

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

The program is non-competitive, and applications will be assessed in order of receipt against the eligibility and assessment criteria.

See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria.

You must:

• understand the guidelines and read the frequently asked questions
• ensure you are eligible for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be considered.
• address how the project will reduce the business’s carbon emissions

Applicants must:

• nominate and provide evidence to support the funding category they are applying to
• nominate the project theme they are applying for
• submit a detailed plan for the proposed project
• submit a description of proposed activities
• submit a description of expenditure and how it will achieve carbon reduction goals

See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.

Applications are submitted online using the SmartyGrants portal.

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