Conservation grants

Conservation grants are available for up to 50% of the total cost of a single grant application:

• of a regulated or significant tree up to a maximum amount of $3,000 per application; and
• of a heritage place and/or representative building up to a maximum of $5,000.

Grants are available only for the costs of: 

• expert advice
• conservation and restoration of heritage places or representative buildings to conserve original elements or reinstate the original appearance and the maintenance thereof
• management and/or maintenance of eligible trees. 

All conservation work funded by a Council grant must be undertaken by suitably qualified and licensed contractors.

Funding is not available for the removal of trees, or for inappropriate lopping, pruning or 'tree damaging activity' as defined by the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016.

Applicant quotes can include arborist supervision, if the person requires it during pruning, as this supports the pruning works.

Otherwise, it is no longer mandatory that owners of trees have an arborist supervise their works.

Council will require the photos detailing the proposed pruning, however, as this is in lieu of an arborist report. 

Please read the full Conservation Grants Policy(PDF, 294KB), including the Eligibility section and Grant Conditions, before applying. 

Please note that:

• The applicant must provide two quotes for the proposed conservation with the application form
• When a Conservation grant is made, the applicant must accept the Council's right to photograph the subject trees, property and/or items, before and after conservation work
• Payment of grants is to be made only following inspection of the satisfactorily completed conservation work by a Council officer. Grant recipients are to provide receipts and detailed invoices before payment is made.
• The Council preserves the right to withhold payment of allocated grants if conservation work does not meet appropriate standards and/or differs from the work that was proposed in the application.
• Where other grant funding has been obtained for the proposed works, the Conservation Grant Policy will not apply. 

Please read the Conservation Grants Policy(PDF, 294KB) , including the Eligibility section and Grant Conditions, before applying. 

We require you to attach the following documentation for us to assess your grant application:

• Two quotes from tree pruners, including the cost of arborist supervision for pruning works
• Recent photos detailing the proposed maintenance pruning required.

We require you to attach the following documentation for us to assess your grant application;

• Detailed description of the work 
• Site plan identifying the location of the work 
• Detailed drawings or photos as necessary to clearly define the scope of work 
• Relevant plans and specifications prepared by suitable person or company 
• Photos of relevant part of building 
• Methodology or specification notes to detail the materials and techniques to undertake the works
• Two written quotes from suitable persons or companies based on the agreed scope of works.