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3. Access to the Biodiversity Fund Program
This chapter examines access to the Biodiversity Fund program, including stakeholder
engagement, development of the program’s grant guidelines, and preparation for the
grant assessment and selection process.
Introduction
3.1 An
early and important consideration in the design of a grants program is
establishing the process by which potential grant recipients will be able to access
the program.
54
The ANAO examined Environment’s approach to ensuring
access to the four rounds of the Biodiversity Fund program, including:
stakeholder
engagement;
development and content of the grant guidelines;
preparation
for the grant assessment and selection process; and
planning and implementing the management of probity and conflicts of
interest.
Stakeholder engagement
3.2 Environment
conducted a range of stakeholder engagement activities in
developing and implementing the Biodiversity Fund program, including an industry
roundtable, consultative meetings, surveys, the dissemination of information
in newsletters, and direct correspondence between stakeholders and
the department.
Stakeholder consultation prior to funding rounds
3.3 Environment
held an industry roundtable before the opening of the application
period for Round 1, with participating stakeholders including representatives
from the revegetation industry, the carbon management industry,
nurseries, research bodies universities and the Commonwealth
54 ANAO Better Practice Guide—Implementing Better Practice Grants Administration, December 2013,
Canberra, p. 32.
ANAO Report No.10 2014–15 Administration of the Biodiversity Fund Program
45
Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, catchment management
authorities, Greening Australia, and botanic gardens.
3.4 The
roundtable, which was held on 30 November 2011, introduced stakeholders
to the scope and objectives of the Biodiversity Fund program. Environment
informed roundtable participants that guidelines for Round 1 would
be released before Christmas 2011 and that the funding round would be deliberately
broad in scope. The roundtable did not, however, include a consideration
of the draft guidelines, as they had already been submitted to the Minister
for approval when the roundtable was held.
55
3.5 Prior
to the launch of the NATI round, the department also held stakeholder
meetings in Broome, Darwin and Townsville during July 2012.
56
These meetings canvassed opportunities for biodiversity conservation across
northern Australia, with participants providing suggestions for improvement
to application and project reporting processes.
Informing potential applicants
3.6 Stakeholders
were provided with information about the Biodiversity Fund
program rounds through a range of mechanisms, including newsletters from
natural resource management NRM bodies, newspaper advertisements, the
department’s website, and Australian Government Regional Landcare Facilitators.
57
3.7 Environment’s
stakeholder surveys discussed later indicated that potential
applicants were adequately informed of the opportunity to apply for grants
under the Biodiversity Fund program. The ANAO’s consultation
58
with stakeholders
also indicated that there was strong interest from potential applicants.
Further, the large number of applications lodged under each funding
round indicated that stakeholders were aware of the program.
55 The Minister approved the guidelines on 1 December 2011.
56 Stakeholder meetings were not convened prior to the launch of Round 2 or the Investing in
Tasmania’s Native Forests round. Environment informed the ANAO that the delivery of these rounds drew upon stakeholder feedback and departmental experience gained through the earlier rounds.
57 Under the Caring for Our Country initiative, Australian Government Regional Landcare Facilitators
have been appointed to each of the 56 NRM regions across Australia. Within each region, facilitators advocate for the protection and conservation of natural resources.
58 The ANAO contacted a range of organisations with an interest in environmental management seeking
views on the extent to which the Biodiversity Fund program had been adequately advertised to potential applicants. In addition, the ANAO’s survey of funded recipients sought comment on access to
the program.
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