Nature Conservation Assistance Program - Assessment

Nature Conservation Assistance Program (NCAP) applications are assessed by a panel of City of Gold Coast officers experienced in ecological restoration. Applications will be scored against the below criteria.

• Does the restoration site consolidate and/or connect with land managed for conservation purposes (for example, City reserve, national park, Voluntary Conservation Agreement property)?
• Does the property lie in a mapped biodiversity area under the City Plan?
• As identified on the City’s current remnant or pre-clearing vegetation mapping, what is the restoration site’s vegetation as listed under the Vegetation Management Act 1999?
• How well connected is the restoration site to other patches of vegetation and how large are those patches of vegetation?
• Is the site habitat for rare or threatened species?
• Does the project site adjoin or contain riparian area?
• Is the site protected or managed under an agreement (for example, Voluntary Conservation Agreement or Land for Wildlife)?
• Can the landlord work well in partnership with the City?
• What is the applicant’s capacity to manage allocated funds including acquittal?
• What is the applicant’s capacity to manage the restoration project and future maintenance, taking into account previous restoration experience and their understanding of restoration approaches?
• Is the project compliant with statutory requirements (for example tree removal permits)?
• Is the application and budget complete and of good quality (e.g. are requested documents attached)?
• Does the project offer good value for money?

The panel will also consider:

• the applicant’s capacity to work in partnership with the City
• the applicant’s capacity to manage allocated funds and provide requested reporting, including project progress reports and financial acquittal, on time
• the risks involved with each project and factors that may contribute to success
• alternative income or assistance that is available for the project
• other assistance received from the City by the applicant in the same financial year.

The NCAP is a competitive process and should not be relied on as a source of ongoing funding.

Related information

• Assessment
• City Plan
• Eligibility
• Funding and conditions
• Guidelines
• How to apply
• Past recipients