IMPORTANT: Please read information below to assist you in completing your application online.

Welcome to the Central Coast Council online grant application service, powered

by SmartyGrants.

You may begin anywhere in this application form. Please ensure you save as you go.

Please see further information about the program below including a link to the program guidelines.

For queries about the program, expected outcomes, guidelines, deadlines, or questions in the form, please email POET@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au and quote your application number. 

What is the Protection of the Environment Trust?

The Protection of the Environment Trust (the trust) was established in 2006 with a twofold purpose:

• To promote the protection and enhancement of the natural environment or of a significant aspect of the natural environment and in particular, the conservation of flora and fauna indigenous to the Local Government area; and
• For the provision of information or education or the carrying on of research about the natural environment or a significant aspect of the natural environment in particular relating to flora and fauna of the area for the benefit of persons with the Local Government area.

What is the Protection of the Environment Trust Grant Program?

The Protection of the Environment Trust is able to provide small amounts of financial support to individuals, groups and organisations in the community that are able to deliver projects and works that contribute to the stated purpose of the Trust. The projects and works are not restricted to on-ground activities.

The Protection of the Environment Trust may elect to preferentially fund projects that are consistent with a particular topic or theme within the Trust’s stated purpose. The Trust may, for example, choose to fund different organisations to deliver complementary projects about a significant native species.

The grants program is open to community groups and organisations, incorporated associations, not-for-profit organisations, non-commercial cooperatives, education organisations and research organisations.

Available Funding

The annual funding available for the Protection of the Environment Trust is in the order of $60,000, however this amount may vary between years. The Trust will aim to fund multiple projects each year with available funds. Funding requests by eligible applications should therefore be scaled accordingly.

Grant Program Guidelines

Please read the Protection of the Environment guidelines 2021-22 for additional information including criteria, eligibility and program objectives. 

If you need more help using this form, download the Help Guide for Applicants or check out Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

NAVIGATING (MOVING THROUGH) THE APPLICATION FORM

On every screen (page of the form) you will find a Form Navigation contents box, this links directly to every page of the application. Click the link to jump directly to the page you want.

You can also click 'next page' or 'previous page' on the top or bottom of each page to move forward or backward through the application.

SAVING YOUR DRAFT APPLICATION

If you wish to leave a partially completed application, press 'save and close' and log out. When you log back in and click on the 'My Submissions' link at the top of the screen, you will find a list of any applications you have started or submitted. You can reopen your draft application and start where you left off.

You can also download any application, whether draft or completed, as a PDF. Click on the 'Download PDF' button located at the bottom of the last page of the application form.

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

You will find a Review and Submit button at the bottom of the Navigation Panel. You need to review your application before you can submit it.

Once you have reviewed your application you can submit it by clicking on 'Submit' at the top or bottom of the screen or on the navigation panel. You will not be able to submit your application until all the compulsory questions are completed and there are no validation errors.

Once you have submitted your application, no further editing or uploading of support materials is possible.

When you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your submitted application attached. This will be sent to the email you used to register.

If you do not receive a confirmation of submission email then you should presume that your submission has NOT been submitted.

Hint: also check the email hasn’t landed in your spam or junk email folder.

ATTACHMENTS AND SUPPORT DOCUMENTS

You may need to upload/submit attachments to support your application. This is very simple, but requires you to have the documents saved on your computer, or on a storage device.

You need to allow enough time for each file to upload before trying to attach another file. Files can be up to 25MB each; however, we do recommend trying to keep files to a maximum of 5MB – the larger the file, the longer the upload time.

COMPLETING AN APPLICATION IN A GROUP/TEAM

A number of people can work on an application using the same log in details as long as only one person is working at a time. Ensure you save as you go.

SPELL CHECK

Most internet browsers (including Firefox v2.0 and above; Safari; and Google Chrome) have spell checking facilities built in – you can switch this function on or off by adjusting your browser settings.