Urban Forest Fund

The following are welcome to apply:

• ​Residents
• Business owners
• Owners corporations
• Community groups
• Building owners and developers
• Educational institutions

To be eligible, greening projects must:

• Be located within the City of Melbourne.
• Be primarily focused on creating a new greening project.
• Demonstrate community and environmental benefits.
• Be visible from public spaces or regularly accessed by a large number of people.
• Have a clear plan for long-term maintenance.
• Be completed by 31 May 2025.
• Apply for a planning permit if required.
• Be located on land owned by the applicant or, where private property is not owned by the applicant, a secured lease is required for at least five years, with written consent from the building owner.

Additional eligibility requirements must be met if you’re applying for a grant under Stream 2 Laneway greening:

• Be located on a privately-owned laneway that is publicly-accessible, or on a privately-owned building facade within a laneway.
• Include a detailed landscape plan including relevant green infrastructure systems and nominated suppliers for planting and green infrastructure systems.
• A structural design with certification for any green wall or green facade fixings, prepared by suitably qualified persons.
• Have at least one person in the local community who will champion this project​.
• Demonstrate collaborative greening efforts by the laneway community.​

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

1. General assessment criteria for all applications

• What is the total amount of green cover achieved by the project (including horizontal and vertical surfaces)?
• To what extent does the project provide environmental benefits?
• Is the project innovative?
• Has suitable expertise been engaged for the project?
• To what extent does the project provide benefit to the community?
• Who can access and enjoy the project?
• Does the project represent good value for money?

2. Stream 1: High-impact greening – additional assessment criteria

• Is the project in an area with low tree canopy cover?
• Is the project in an area with low open space?
• Will the project contribute replacement greening in an area where significant tree loss has occurred from development?

3. Stream 2: Laneway greening – additional assessment criteria

• Describe who will be championing your project?
• Can you demonstrate a collaborative greening effort by your laneway community?

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.
• Provide complete information requirements.

For Stream 1: High impact greening, priority will be given to projects which:

• are located in areas with low canopy cover or open space
• are publicly accessible
• contribute to community health and wellbeing
• are innovative and support further research.

For Stream 2: Laneway greening, priority will be given to projects which:

• are within publicly accessible laneways
• contribute to community health and wellbeing
• are supported by ‘community champions’​
• demonstrate a collaborative greening effort by the laneway community, for example where multiple owners each apply for a grant within the same laneway to create a greater greening impact.

The Urban Forest Fund supports projects that are well-resolved and demonstrate commitment to delivery. Depending on the project, you will need to prepare some, or all, of the following documentation for your application:

• Concept designs, including detail about irrigation, growing medium, and plant details (these don’t have to be final construction drawings, but the more detail you provide, the easier it will be for the assessment panel to understand your project).
• Information about how the project will provide benefits for people and the environment.
• Estimates of plant and canopy cover in square metres, before and after the project.
• A project timeline.
• A formal quote or itemised costing from a licensed Quantity Surveyor.
• Formal written advice from the City of Melbourne Planning Department that either:
  1. a planning permit is not required;
  2. an application for a planning permit has been submitted; or
  3. a planning permit has been issued (see the Do I Need a Permit page on the City of Melbourne website).
• Formal written advice from a licensed Building Surveyor including whether a building permit will be required for the project, and specific advice regarding structural capacity (for projects that rely on existing buildings or structures).
• Evidence of ownership, or a lease agreement, for the property where the project will take place.
• Written permission from the property owner for the project (where the applicant is not the owner).
• Maintenance plan.
• Detailed project costs as either a formal quote from a suitably qualified practitioner, or a licensed quantity surveyor.
• Laneway greening project proposals comprising green wall systems fixed to building facades must include details for the green wall system, nominated suppliers, planting lists, horticultural planting maintenance and irrigation plans, and structural design and signoff where required.

Applicants will be able to submit up to ten additional documents with their application. This might include visualisations or renders, or any other evidence to support the application.

Useful resources for project design are also provided in the UFF web page.

See the guidelines for full details of support materials and other information requirements.

Applications must be submitted online via the SmartyGrants system.

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.