Urban Greening Grants

How much money is available for this program?

A total of $200,000 is available for this grant program.

How much money can my organisation apply for?

You can apply for a grant of between $5,000 and $40,000.

Is my organisation eligible to apply for a grant?

To be eligible for a grant you must be one of the following:

• a Tasmanian council as established under the Local Government Act 1993
• an authority as established under the Local Government Act 1993
• a recognised natural resource management organisation as established under the Natural Resource Management Act 2002

Read the guidelines for more information.

Can I submit a joint application?

You may work in partnership with others to deliver a project, provided the lead organisation is an eligible applicant, and the project is otherwise eligible.

For example, a Tasmanian council can partner with a not-for-profit organisation to deliver a project, provided the Tasmanian council lodges the application, and the project meets the eligibility criteria.

The Tasmanian council, authority or recognised natural resource management organisation will hold full responsibility for the project, including any insurance, legal, financial, and liability associated with delivering the project in accordance with the grant agreement.

Read the guidelines for information on joint applications.

Can I apply for a grant for a project that has already started?

If your project has already commenced on-ground works you will not be able to apply for a grant.

However, you can apply for a project that is related to a broader program of work that has already started, such as your council’s urban greening strategy. In this case, the proposed project you submit for the grant must be yet to commence on-ground work, and must independently meet all eligibility criteria and the objectives of the grant program.

Your application must also detail how the proposed project is additional to any existing allocation of funds or commenced works within your broader work program.

When can I start my project and when does it need to be completed?

Projects are to commence before 31 December 2026 and they must be completed by 31 December 2027.

How do I apply for a grant?

• Read the grant guidelines to check your eligibility.
• If you need further information, please contact the climate change office by email climatechange@recfit.tas.gov.au or phone 03 6166 4466.
• Apply through the SmartyGrants website

Can I lodge multiple applications?

No, your organisation cannot lodge multiple applications for different projects for this grant program. You may only submit one application per applicant (including joint applications).

When do applications close?

Applications for this grant program will close at 2:00 pm on Thursday 7 May 2026. We will not accept applications received after the closing date and time.

Can I talk to someone about my project before I submit my application or if I am having trouble submitting my application?

Yes. We encourage you to read the grant guidelines as a starting point. If you have further questions about the program or your application, or are having trouble with the SmartyGrants portal, please contact the Climate Change Office by email: climatechange@recfit.tas.gov.au or phone: 03 6166 4466.

What is ‘urban greening’?

Urban greening is the process of increasing vegetation such as shrubs, trees and green spaces within an urban area to create shadier, cooler environments, increasing biodiversity, improving air quality and leading to more resilient communities.

What are the benefits of urban greening?

Urban greening is known to provide a range of benefits, from building resilience to climate change and improving biodiversity, to enhancing human health and wellbeing.

Planting trees reduces the urban heat island effect during periods of high temperatures as trees not only provide shade, they also cool and clean air through the process of evapotranspiration (the process where water transfers from the earth’s surface to the atmosphere through evaporation (from soil and water) and transpiration (from plants)).

There are a range of other benefits associated with urban greening. These include but are not limited to:

• increasing biodiversity, by providing habitat and food for other organisms
• improving storm water management, by absorbing excess storm water runoff
• improving human health and wellbeing (including both physical and mental health and wellbeing)
• improving air quality by providing oxygen and filtering air pollution
• creating ecological links between urban forests and bushland areas
• fostering social cohesion and promoting a sense of community
• sequestering carbon.

What is a ‘climate tolerant’ tree?

A climate tolerant tree is a tree that suits a particular local environment and the changes that are expected to occur there as a result of climate change.

In selecting climate tolerant trees for your proposed project, chosen species should be resilient to Tasmania’s changing climate conditions, such as higher temperatures, increased frequency and intensity of extreme events, and changing rainfall patterns.

It is important to plant the right tree in the right place. Please refer to the Local Government Area Climate Profiles on the ReCFIT website for information on the expected climate changes in your area.

A range of factors should be taken into consideration when selecting tree species. These include:

• future climate conditions in your local area
• canopy coverage and tree size (trees with larger coverage will create more shade and build more resilience to heat)
• water availability / water needs
• pruning or maintenance needs
• excessive leaf, fruit, bark or branch fall
• tree lifespan (preferably 50–150-year lifespan)
• neighbourhood character
• requirements for winter sun
• pedestrian and driver safety
• species that are unlikely to cause allergies
• no potential to become a weed
• susceptibility to pests or disease.

What is considered an urban environment?

The program is specifically targeted at urban environments, commonly characterised as built-up areas that include services, housing and dense populations.

For the purpose of this grant program, an urban environment is defined as an area within one of the following zones, as described in the Tasmanian Planning Scheme (or applicable Interim Planning Scheme).

• General Residential Zone
• Inner Residential Zone
• Urban Mixed-Use Zone
• Local Business Zone
• General Business Zone
• Central Business Zone
• Community Purpose Zone

Do I need to consider and manage any specific risks or issues associated with urban greening?

Common risks and issues associated to urban greening are often avoidable if projects are carefully planned, proactively managed, and informed by community consultation.

As a part of developing your application, you may wish to consider and plan for potential issues around:

• space limitations
• funding and resources
• drainage issues
• ongoing maintenance and management needs and costs
• biodiversity risks
• conflicting land uses
• pedestrian and driver safety concerns
• public perception and preference.

You could show consideration of these and other issues as a part of your application, by providing a community engagement plan and/or a management plan outlining how the trees will be maintained and protected on an ongoing basis.

Should I plant native trees?

The program does not specify that you need to plant native trees. You should consider a range of factors in selecting the tree species for your project. Choosing the right tree species in relation to your region’s local climate and site characteristics is crucial to providing the benefits of urban greening and building resilience to climate change.

Planting native trees, with native undergrowth, is known to have a range of benefits such as supporting biodiversity, providing habitat and food for local wildlife, and supporting native pollinators. Native trees may also be better adapted to Australia’s climate and may be able to withstand local conditions. They are also typically more efficient at water management.

However, non-native trees may be able to cope better with high pollution levels and could be able to withstand lower levels of sunshine in winter. If using exotic trees, it is crucial that they are carefully selected and managed to ensure their benefits outweigh any potential risks. Exotic species selected for projects must not be a known plant pest or declared weed.

For information on plant pests (including declared weeds) please visit the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania’s page on Declared Pests & Diseases

Your application should outline why you have selected the chosen tree species to be planted as part of your project and what benefits it/they will provide. You may wish to provide supporting documents, such as a Tree/Urban Greening Strategy or management plan for street/urban trees.

If my application meets all eligibility criteria, is a grant guaranteed?

No. This grant program has limited funding and there is no guarantee that all applicants will receive funding. Applications will be competitively assessed based on the assessment criteria

Successful applicants will be determined based on:

• How well applicants have demonstrated that their project meets the assessment criteria.
• The availability of funds.

If my application is successful, how and when will I receive the grant payment?

The assessment panel will assess applications soon after the closing of the application process and we will notify all applicants of the outcome of their application as soon as practical.

If your application is successful, you will be required to enter a grant agreement with the Department of State Growth to receive the grant. We will also ask for your organisation’s bank account details to process grant payments.

The form and terms and conditions of the agreement will be determined by the department. You will not receive any funds until the relevant grant agreements are finalised.

Can I appeal the decision if my application was not successful?

If your application is unsuccessful, you may appeal the decision. The appeals process considers the administrative processes followed in relation to the grant program. It aims to ensure that all applicants have been treated fairly and equitably.

All requests must be in writing and should be addressed to the Director, Climate Change Office.

Your request must be received within 28 days from the date of the Department of State Growth notifying you of the decision about your application.