Free grant seeker workshops in NSW Central West to tackle tough times

The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) will be holding a series of free grantseeker workshops in late October, so that community groups in drought-affected regions of NSW are best informed to apply for FRRR's Tackling Tough Times Together (TTTT) grant program.

Grantseeker workshops are coming to a number of drought-affected NSW towns this October

FRRR’s disaster resilience team will be running the free sessions in Coleambally, Condobolin, Crookwell, Forbes, Gundagai, Hillston and Young.

Designed specifically for drought-affected communities, FRRR's TTTT program helps communities access the resources they need to support one another through the ongoing effects of the drought. The grants support community-based activities that both help to relieve current stressors and symptoms, and importantly, build capacity and resilience for the future.

Communities in these areas of NSW have not experienced a drought of this magnitude since records began 120 years ago. That means that the severity of the current conditions has surpassed those of the Federation drought, the World War II drought and the Millennium drought.

Emma Thomas, Disaster Recovery & Resilience Programs Manager, explains that smaller rural communities can struggle to raise the funds for projects that will help them address the challenges they are facing.

"Grant funding can be a catalyst for change and Tackling Tough Times Together grants in particular can be a real lifeline for communities when spirits need a lift, so we're thrilled to share our tips and tricks for preparing successful applications. The workshops are free to attend and can be a great way to translate ideas into compelling applications and to get immediate feedback.

"What you will learn can be applied to any grant application or funding request."

Registrations for the free grantseeker workshops are available on FRRR's Facebook page and on Eventbrite. Search 'tackling tough times' for your preferred workshop location.

The TTTT program offers grants across three tiers – up to $20,000 or up to $60,000 to support locally-led responses to the drought, with a small number of grants of up to $150,000 also available for larger-scale, multi-year projects.

Over 13 rounds to date, the TTTT program has delivered over $5.9 million in grant funding to 293 projects in drought-affected communities.

The Forbes Art Society was recently awarded a $2,983 grant as part of the TTTT program to contribute to a culturally vibrant community by hosting a creative writing retreat, supporting people to create their own memoirs and share these with the community. As well as providing the opportunity to participate in a creative art, the inclusive environment strengthened social connections.

“There is no doubt that such workshops provide creative, social, and health benefits to the participants which can then flow on to the community,” said Dr Rae Luckie, who facilitated the retreat. “Feedback revealed all came away with a sense of achievement.”

Applications for this program are always open and groups in drought-affected areas are encouraged to apply for funding to help their community come together to tackle the drought. The next cut-off dates for applications are:

• 24 October 2019 - for grants up to $20,000 or $60,000 (EOIs for the $15,000 tier already closed). Outcomes will be advised in February 2020.

• 25 February 2020 - EOIs for the $150,000 tier must be received by 12 December 2019. Outcomes advised late May 2020.

More information on the Tackling Tough Times Together grant program is available on FRRR's website.

Dubbo Regional Council Launches Fun Stormwater Education Campaign

Dubbo Regional Council is launching the It’s Our Macquarie stormwater education campaign to urge all residents to help protect the Macquarie River from stormwater pollution.

Council’s Sustainability and Education Officer, Catriona Jennings said we all rely on a strong and healthy Macquarie River, with the River providing at least 70% of our drinking water needs.

“It is therefore important that our community understands the direct connection between our actions at home or workplace, the stormwater system, and the health of our water ways.

“It is only a short trip from a stormwater drain to our beloved Macquarie River. Anything that falls into the gutter, can wash into our street drains and into our waterways inhabited by fish, frogs and other aquatic animals and plants. Grass clippings, fertiliser, chemicals, dog poo, litter, cigarette butts, soil and sediment can all contribute to polluting our waterways,” Mrs Jennings said.

At the heart of the It’s our Macquarie campaign is an animated video which follows the story of Mr Jones, a fictional local primary school teacher. Mr Jones rides alongside the Macquarie River everyday on his way to school and encounters many sources of stormwater pollution. He understands the impact it has on our local waterways, and tries to stop the pollution in its tracks. BUT no matter how hard he tries, it takes more than one person to look after our Macquarie River. Ultimately the campaign is a call to action and seeks the community to get on board!

Council as part of its campaign is encouraging residents, schools and businesses to follow Mr Jones on his journey, watch and share the video, to increase community awareness of the impacts of stormwater pollution on our local waterways and ways they can help to protect the Macquarie River.

“By watching the video and completing the survey participants can win some amazing prizes including ‘My Dubbo’ gift cards and stormwater stencilling for your school or business,” Mrs Jennings said.

The Campaign will commence on Monday 13 May and run through until the 30 June 2019.

Council would also like to highlight the many resources available online to assist residents, schools and businesses in further exploring the issue of stormwater pollution. Visit Council’s website for more information.

For further information on the campaign please contact Council’s Sustainability and Education Officer on 02 6801 4000 or Catriona.jennings@dubbo.nsw.gov.au

Orange Council drive a new solution to an old problem

As part of their Tranche 1 work, the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities (CRCWSC) is preparing case studies to showcase real-life projects which deliver water sensitive city outcomes. The aim of these case studies is to help build a body of evidence that can support and encourage the adoption of research outcomes. The first regional case study - Orange stormwater to potable: building urban water supply diversity - will be launched at the Conservation in Action: research to reality conference Welcome Drinks event on 15 May 2018, in Bathurst.

The case study examines Orange's experience in diversifying its water supply by capturing and treating urban stormwater to supplement the city's potable water supply.

Holding dam and batch ponds

Orange faced six main drivers which led to the adoption of a stormwater to potable solution:

1. Critical water shortages. By late 2007 the city’s water storages were below 40%. While significant resources were directed to reduce water consumption, by August 2008 the combined water storages had reached their lowest levels (26.7%). The city needed to identify alternative water supplies to augment its water supply.
2. A willing community. Water restrictions and other water demand initiatives began in January 2003 and helped to reduce water use in Orange by around 38% to an average annual use of less than 4390 ML in 2008. By May 2008, living with level 5 water restrictions, the community wanted the council to do something quickly to provide more water for the city.
3. Council leadership and innovation. Despite needing to find a solution quickly, the council didn’t just want a quick fix until the next rainfall event. Instead, it wanted a water security solution that would provide long term benefits. It was prepared to consider all options.
4. Making the most of a wasted resource. During the drought, the rural catchments feeding the existing water supply dams did not generate enough runoff from the periodic rainfall to raise dam water levels.  In comparison, these rainfall events generated runoff from the impervious urban areas which discharged into the waterways downstream of the dam.
5. Risk management and partnership. When the council decided on the Blackmans Swamp Creek urban stormwater harvesting scheme as the preferred option, it entered unchartered territory in terms of potable water supply. The council needed to demonstrate that it could safely deliver the project through detailed modelling, the development of risk assessments and frameworks, and ongoing monitoring.
6. Cost effective operation of water supply options. A key driver was to ensure Orange’s supply diversity, and cost effective management of this diverse water portfolio.

From these starting points, Orange began an innovative resolution of its water supply problem:

1. It decided to harvest urban stormwater for potable uses.
2. It addressed knowledge gaps and created rules, to build confidence among regulators and the community.
3. It looked to balance harvesting and environmental flow requirements.
4. It looked to optimise the use of a treated stormwater dual pipe system in new residential developments.

Homes in Orange now have two water meters in their front yard. The purple meter is for non-drinking water supply.

The outcome was an award winning (and community approved) demonstration of stormwater to potable uses. To learn about key lessons from the Orange experience, attend the launch (at the Conservation in Action: research to reality conference Welcome Drinks event) or look for our online release of the case study in May.

This media release has been adapted from the the CRCWSC website.