Living Carbon Grants

Purpose and Program Overview

The Living Carbon Grants program provides funding to landholders in New South Wales. The grants are for establishing carbon and biodiversity planting projects. These projects must also help with the restoration of habitats for threatened species. The program is part of the NSW Government’s Primary Industries Productivity and Abatement Program.

The grant intends to help landholders enter the carbon market. It aims to lower the barriers to creating carbon planting projects. The program also seeks to demonstrate that these projects can produce co-benefits for biodiversity.

The total funding pool for the grants is $5 million. The program’s broader role is to support the NSW Government’s Net Zero targets. It also contributes to land health, productivity, and the creation of new income streams for landholders.

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount or funding range: Successful applicants can receive up to $200,000.
• Application open and close dates: The application period for the North Coast, Riverina, and MidCoast regions closes on 30 September 2025.
• Eligible industries or business types: The grants are for landholders. This includes private landholders, Aboriginal organisations, Traditional Owner groups, and public land managers with pre-approval.
• Required co-contributions: Yes, a co-contribution is needed. It can be a combination of direct funding and in-kind contributions.
• Location/state/territory applicability: The grant is for projects in specific regions of New South Wales. These are the Riverina Local Land Services region, the North Coast Local Land Services region, and the MidCoast Local Government Area.

Priority Sectors

The grant is for the primary industries and land management sectors. It focuses on carbon farming and biodiversity.

Funding Scope

• Minimum and maximum amounts per stream: The maximum grant amount is $200,000. There is no specified minimum.
• Categories or streams of funding: The grants support the design, planning, and implementation of planting projects. This includes costs for soil preparation, fencing, seeds, and tube stock. A specific amount of $5,000 is available for the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme and Accounting for Nature (AfN) costs.
• Project timeline or eligible funding duration: The grant activities must be completed within 18 months of signing a funding deed.

Grant Amount in Total

The total funding available for this Living Carbon Grants Program is $5 million.

Eligibility Criteria

• Business structure or size: The grant is for landholders, not a specific business size.
• Registered business location: The project must be on land in an eligible region of NSW.
• Insurance or compliance obligations: Applicants must have public liability insurance of at least $10 million. The project must be registered with the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme.
• ABN/GST status: An active ABN is required.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

Living Carbon Grants supports a range of project costs. Eligible activities and expenses include:

• Soil preparation, such as ripping or augering.
• Fencing materials and labour.
• Direct seeding and tube stock planting.
• Purchasing seeds and tree protection materials.
• Costs related to the ACCU Scheme and Accounting for Nature.

Assessment Process

This is a competitive grant. Applications are assessed against eligibility and merit criteria.

Recent Program Updates

The grants are a part of a specific program with a total funding pool of $5 million. The application period for the current round closes on 30 September 2025.

Application Tips

• Your project must be located in one of the three eligible regions.
• You need to have a registered carbon project with the Clean Energy Regulator.
• Prepare a detailed planting plan, and have it endorsed by an approved partner.
• You must commit to using the Accounting for Nature (AfN) framework for monitoring.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting with a professional grant specialist like Pattens Group. We offer initial assessments to review your business’s eligibility and evaluate how well your project aligns with the grant’s objectives. You can also visit relevant government websites for application templates and further guidance.