Urban Greening Grants Guidelines

The Tasmanian Government is committed to taking practical climate action and collaborating with other levels of government and the community to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions, or lower, from 2030 and increase the resilience of Tasmanian communities to the impacts of a changing climate.

Tasmania is expected to experience a rise in annual temperatures, more hot days, and heatwaves as a result of climate change. Increasing green areas in our urban environments will play an important role in creating more sustainable, comfortable and liveable communities, especially during periods of high temperatures.

2.1. Emissions Reduction and Resilience Plan for Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry 2024-29

In 2024, the Tasmanian Government published its first legislated emissions reduction and resilience plans for six sectors - transport, waste, industrial processes and product use, agriculture, energy, and land use, land use change and forestry. These plans guide Tasmania’s action on climate change in each sector for the next five years.

The Climate Change Office worked closely with business, industry and government entities to develop the emissions reduction and resilience plan for Tasmania’s land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector, which plays a critical role in Tasmania’s emissions profile.

A range of themes relating to urban greening were raised during the development of the plan, including:

• the need to consider climate change impacts, such as increasing heatwaves and extreme weather events, on urban settlements
• interest in programs that support planting more trees on private land and in urban environments
• support for practices and technologies that reduce emissions and increase carbon storage.

This grant program delivers on the specific action under priority area 2 of the LULUCF plan that connects these themes, to:

“Work with local government, regional development authorities and other institutions to plant climate tolerant trees in urban environments that can increase carbon storage and build resilience during high temperatures.”

Urban environments are likely to be exposed to higher temperatures as a result of climate change, which may impact community health and the use of open spaces. The Urban Greening Grants Program aims to build the resilience of urban environments in Tasmania to climate change and make them more comfortable in hotter temperatures, by planting climate tolerant trees to increase canopy cover.

Increased canopy cover in urban areas provides a range of benefits that support the health and wellbeing of the community, including temperature regulation, increasing shade, enhancing air quality, aesthetic appeal, improving stormwater management, and supporting biodiversity.

3.1. Objectives

This program offers grants to Tasmanian councils and recognised natural resource management organisations to plant climate tolerant trees in urban areas to:

• increase canopy cover and the number of climate tolerant trees in our urban environments
• increase carbon storage by planting new trees
• build and improve resilience to the impacts of climate change, by making urban environments more comfortable and liveable, especially during periods of high temperatures.

This program is administered by the Climate Change Office in Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania (ReCFIT), Department of State Growth, on behalf of the Crown in Right of Tasmania.

The Tasmanian Government has allocated $200,000 to support local governments and recognised natural resource management organisations through this program.

The program will provide grants of $5,000 up to $40,000 to eligible applicants. Applicants can only apply for one grant for their organisation.

This is a competitive grants program. Applications will be competitively assessed using the assessment criteria and approved for funding based on a comparative rating scale. Because the program has limited funding, not all eligible applications will receive a grant. Partial funding may also be offered in some cases.

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.

We may ask you to provide information or documentation to support your eligibility claims, either as part of the application process or after you have submitted your application.

We may use third-party software or technical experts to check the authenticity of the information you provide.

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.

If you are applying as a partnership, you will need to include the following details of how the partnership will work:

• identification of the roles and responsibilities of each organisation or individual in the partnership
• how the applicant will engage project partners to successfully facilitate the project
• a letter of support from each partner detailing the partner’s contribution to the project, including any financial, resourcing, expertise, or in-kind support.

The Tasmanian council 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.

To be eligible for a grant under this program, your project must:

• meet the objectives of this program
• be undertaken in Tasmania
• have written approval and appropriate permissions to undertake the project from the property owner and any other required parties such as planning authorities
• have the appropriate planning approvals or permits, or be exempt from requiring a planning permit by complying with the provisions in the Tasmanian Planning Scheme (or current interim planning scheme equivalent)
• commence before 31 December 2026
• be completed by 31 December 2027
• have a total project budget that is equal to or higher than the funding amount requested. Projects with cash or in kind co-contributions are welcome, but it is not a program requirement.

We welcome projects and initiatives of varying scales across a range of locations, including small-scale projects that address the objectives of this program at a local level.

Your project may be related to a broader program of work, such as your council’s urban greening strategy, provided the proposed project independently meets all eligibility criteria and the objectives of the grant program, and the program of on-ground work is yet to commence. The application must detail how the proposed project is additional to any existing allocation of funds for a project or over and above an existing program of work that is included in a council annual plan or budget.

7.1. What is considered an urban environment?

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

The program is specifically targeted at urban environments, commonly characterised as built-up areas that include services, housing and dense populations. Such areas may be made up of a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial spaces, either in cities, towns or suburbs.

If your proposed project does not fall within one of the zones outlined above, but the area is considered ‘urban’ by your council, please contact us to discuss your project proposal before you lodge an application.

The program will fund the purchase of supplies necessary to create a functional green canopy space in an urban environment. Funding can be used for the purchase of tree stock and understorey species, as well as additional services or materials to assist with the planting, establishment, and growth of the trees.

Trees thrive when they are a part of a functional ecosystem. Where possible, understorey species should be planted alongside climate tolerant trees.

Examples of items and services that are eligible for funding under this grant program include:

• climate tolerant trees that increase canopy cover and improve resilience to high temperatures, including mature, established and advanced tree stock, tube stock, seedlings
• supporting plants/understorey species
• soil/mulch associated with planting the trees
• fertiliser/soil conditioner
• structural soil cells or similar
• tree pits
• earthworks for installation of tree pits or structural soil cells
• tree stakes
• tree guards and other protective measures
• tree ties
• root barriers
• deep root water bowls, such as green wells
• soil wetting agents
• contracted planting labour
• site preparation to remove non-growth mediums (such as turf or bitumen)
• drainage
• root ball support
• necessary supporting road infrastructure, such as kerb and gutter support that relates directly to the tree planting.

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list. If you require items or services to complete your proposed project that have not been listed above, please detail these in your project budget and explain why they are necessary.

Trees planted as part of this grant program must be maintained and protected by the recipient from their establishment to maturity. The intention of the program is that the trees will be left to grow for future generations.

8.1. What is considered a climate tolerant tree?

When selecting climate tolerant trees for your proposed project, chosen species should be resilient to Tasmania’s projected changing climate conditions, such as higher temperatures, increased frequency and intensity of extreme events, and changing rainfall patterns. Trees better suited to withstand changes in the climate, harsher conditions and increases in extreme weather events will be crucial in helping our urban environments adapt and be more resilient.

Climate change will affect locations across Tasmania differently. Tree species selected should suit your local environment and the changes that are expected to occur as a result of climate change. 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, including:

• 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)
• whether the tree fits the neighbourhood character
• requirements for winter sun
• pedestrian and driver safety
• species that are unlikely to cause allergies
• no potential to become a weed
• trees not susceptible to pests or disease
• the benefits of using of native versus exotic species
• the risk of bushfire in the area.

The Climate Change Office may check the information you provide about the plants chosen for your project with external sources or technical experts.

8.2. Managing project risks

As with all community-based projects, there are inherent risks in establishing new trees in urban environments. Community views about projects to plant new trees can be mixed. Known risks and issues that may be raised in relation to urban greening include:

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

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

As a part of your application, you may wish to provide a community engagement plan outlining how you will communicate your proposed project and its benefits to the community, and those directly impacted by the new trees.

You may also wish to provide a management plan outlining how the trees will be maintained and protected on an ongoing basis.

If you have evidence of council or community support for increased urban greening, you could attach supporting documents and highlight the connections to your proposed project. This evidence might include your council’s current corporate business or strategic plan, an urban greening or tree strategy, community engagement reports or similar.

We will not fund projects that:

• do not clearly meet the objectives of this program
• have already commenced on-ground works
• have already been completed
• involve purchasing an asset that will not be owned and/or controlled by the recipient
• do not demonstrate a direct benefit to the Tasmanian community
• are solely to produce research
• are designed to pass on the grant funding to third parties
• do not hold the appropriate planning approvals or permits, or be exempt from requiring a planning permit by complying with the provisions in the Tasmanian Planning Scheme (or current interim planning scheme equivalent)
• do not have written permission from the landholder to undertake the project on the land
• request a funding amount that includes any of the following ineligible expenses:
  • costs not directly related to the project, including marketing, advertising, or promotional costs, organisation operating costs, insurance, staff training, ongoing maintenance and travel costs
  • gifts/sponsorship/membership fees
  • costs related to preparing the grant application and any project variation requests
  • permit, licensing, and approval costs
  • purchase of uniforms
  • lease or purchase of land or buildings
  • debt financing and financing costs, including interest.

Items and services related to tree planting that will not be funded under this grant program include:

• development of urban greening strategies or similar documents
• installation of permanent irrigation systems
• projects that request funding for understorey species only
• purchase of only seeds for planting.

Your application must demonstrate that you are an eligible applicant (see Section 5) and that your project is eligible (see Section 7).

Applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be competitively assessed, based on the evidence you provide in the application, against the following four assessment criteria.

Applications should be submitted using SmartyGrants.

Apply for a grant through the SmartyGrants website

For assistance using SmartyGrants, please see the applicant help guide

Contact us to discuss any issue preventing you from using SmartyGrants to submit your application.

Applications for this grant will be competitively assessed. When you submit your application, you should receive a confirmation email. Please keep the email as confirmation that your application has been submitted. If you don’t receive a confirmation email within 24 hours, please contact the Climate Change Office by email: climatechange@recfit.tas.gov.au or phone: 03 6166 4466.

If you do not have internet access, please contact us to discuss alternative ways to apply.

1. You should read the guidelines and any frequently asked questions carefully before you start an application. The application form is designed to help structure your responses to the eligibility and assessment criteria.
2. This is a competitive process. Meeting the eligibility criteria will not automatically guarantee you are awarded a grant.
3. You will not be able to change your application once it has been submitted. You should ensure that all supporting documentation provided is accurate and is attached correctly before submitting.
4. You should complete and lodge your application online via the SmartyGrants website at https://stategrowthtas.smartygrants.com.au/
5. Once you have submitted your application via SmartyGrants, you will receive an automatic receipt by email. This receipt will include details of the application and a unique application ID.
6. Applications will be assessed by an assessment panel. Information you supply may be subject to third party authenticity checks before being submitted to the assessment team or panel.
7. You will be advised of the outcome of your application once the panel has assessed all applications.

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

An assessment panel will be established comprising individuals with relevant knowledge and experience from within the Tasmanian State Service.

Applications will be assessed based on the extent to which they meet the eligibility and assessment criteria detailed in these program guidelines, compared to other applications received.

The department may, at its discretion, ask you to provide more information or documentation after you have submitted your application.

This information must be provided within three working days, unless otherwise advised. Failure to provide further requested information within the timeframe may result in the application being unsuccessful.

The information you provide may be subject to third-party authenticity or technical expert checks.

We aim to notify all applicants of the outcome of their application as soon as practical.

Successful applicants will be asked to enter into a funding agreement with the Department of State Growth.

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

If your application is successful, you will be required to enter a legally binding funding agreement with the Department of State Growth to receive a grant.

The form and terms and conditions of the agreement will be determined by the department and, together with this application form and the program guidelines, will form the funding agreement.

The agreement will specify any reporting requirements and conditions for acknowledging this grant program as a funding source.

You will not receive payment until the funding agreement is completed.

If your application is unsuccessful, you may appeal the decision. The appeals process ensures that all applicants have been treated fairly.

We will consider appeals that relate to administrative process issues in grants management.

All appeal requests must be in writing and addressed to the Director, Climate Change. Your request must be received within 28 days from the date of State Growth notifying you of the decision about your application.

For further information about the appeal process, contact climatechange@recfit.tas.gov.au

If your application is successful, you will be asked for your organisation's bank account details to receive your grant payment.

The bank account must be in your organisation's name. You may be asked to provide a copy of your bank statement or a letter from your bank as confirmation.

Providing incorrect bank account details may result in significant delays or not receiving your grant payment. We cannot guarantee the recovery of funds paid to an incorrect bank account.

You will be required to return some or all the funds if:

• you do not complete the activities required under the funding agreement;
• you do not use any or all of the funding provided;
• your situation changes in a way that prevents completion of the grant; or
• we find that the information provided to us is false or misleading.

Grants distributed under this program may be treated as income by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

We strongly recommend that, prior to applying, you seek independent advice from a tax advisor, financial advisor and/or the ATO, about the possible tax implications for receiving the grant.

Grants distributed under this program attract Goods and Services Tax (GST).

If you are registered for GST, the grant amount will be grossed up to include GST. A valid tax invoice must be supplied by the successful applicant to State Growth.

Information on invoices can be found on our Business Tasmania website: www.business.tas.gov.au/running-a-business/money-tax-and-finance/invoicing

If your application is successful, you will be required to report on the status of your project every six months, as detailed in your funding agreement.

You must provide an acquittal at the conclusion of your project. An acquittal is a statement that confirms the grant was completed as per the funding agreement.

17.1. How to acquit your grant

We will send you an acquittal form using SmartyGrants.

Your acquittal must provide evidence of the outcomes of the project and how the funds were spent. This must include:

• details of number and species of trees and plants planted in the project, including images
• copies of any promotional materials, invoices and receipts
• copies of any written documents produced
• supporting images and maps that show the trees and plants in place.

Evidence must:

• be in the form of a written report, and
• include an account of the total income and expenditure for the project.

We may ask you to provide a Statement of Expenditure certified by an independent, professional auditor. You will be responsible for the cost of obtaining the certified Statement of Expenditure.

Please note the Climate Change Office may share the positive stories from the Urban Greening Grants Program 2026 on our website and social media and may feature your project as a case study. In your final acquittal you will be asked to provide a brief summary of your project, detailing your successes, learnings and the overall outcomes, as well as images where possible.

17.2. Failure to complete an acquittal

If you do not satisfactorily acquit your grant by the due date:

• you may be required to return the funding to State Growth, and
• you may be ineligible for other grants from State Growth.

Contact us to discuss any issue preventing you from acquitting your grant.

State Growth is accountable for its spending of public funds, including providing grants. As part of the accountability process, State Growth may publicise, without further notice, information about the grants provided, including the level of financial assistance, the identity of the recipient, and the purpose of the financial assistance.

If you have received a grant from State Growth:

• despite any confidentiality or intellectual property right subsisting in the grant funding agreement or deed, a party may publish all or any part of the grant funding agreement or deed without reference to another party, and you consent to the disclosure of your name in this context
• all obligations under the Personal Information Protection Act 2004 (Tas) still apply.

You must take care to provide true and accurate information. Any information that is found to be false or misleading may result in action being taken and grant funds, if already provided, may be required to be repaid to State Growth.

Information provided to State Growth may be subject to disclosure in accordance with the Right to Information Act 2009.

Personal information will be managed in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act 2004. This information may be accessed by the individual to whom it relates, on request to State Growth.

State Growth may use and disclose the information you provide for the purposes of discharging its functions under the Program Guidelines and otherwise for the purposes of the program and related uses. State Growth may also use information received in applications and during the delivery of the project for reporting purposes.

Although care has been taken in the preparation of this document, no warranty, express or implied, is given by the Crown in Right of Tasmania, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information it contains.

The Crown in Right of Tasmania accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage that may arise from anything contained in or omitted from or that may arise from the use of this document, and any person relying on this document and the information it contains does so at their own risk absolutely.

The Crown in Right of Tasmania does not accept liability or responsibility for any loss incurred by an applicant that are in any way related to the program.