Wollondilly Dangerous Tree Removal Community Grants Program

Reopened

Wollondilly Dangerous Tree Removal Community Grants Program

In late 2019 and early 2020, bushfires devastated NSW including the Wollondilly Local Government Area causing significant damage to communities, infrastructure and the environment.

In response, Wollondilly Shire Council applied for funding under the “Wollondilly Dangerous Tree Removal Community Grants Program”. This funding is available through the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program (BSBR) delivered by National Recovery and Resilience Agency and funded under the Australian Government.

This Community Grant Program aims to:

Provide a safer environment for residents, families and visitors
Stimulate the local economy
Provide employment opportunities for local business and residents
Support residents experiencing anguish due to the risk to life and property posed by the trees.

Wollondilly Shire Council applied for and successfully received funding from this Community Grants Program. We aim to support eligible residents impacted by the 2019/20 Green Wattle Creek Fire with a one‑off financial assistance payment of up to $10,000 towards the removal of burnt trees which have been assessed as dangerous, within fire impacted residential areas of Wollondilly. This Community Grant Program initially opened on 1 June 2022 and has recently been reopened.

Any tree removal will be in line with Council’s Tree Management and Environmental Vegetation Policy and will be undertaken by local business/contractors, providing an economic stimulus to the local economy.

Requirements

All submissions need to meet the following requirements:

The residential property must be within the Wollondilly Shire.
Submissions can only be made by the land owner.
Only one application per resident/residential address will be considered for funding.
The property has to have been impacted by the 2019/20 Green Wattle Creek Bushfire and will be cross-checked to the GIS Burn Scar Map.
Expressions of Interest will be assessed and awarded on a first registration basis, with successful applicants being advised in writing by end of June 2023.
The trees must be assessed with a written report on business letterhead. The assessment must be provided by a Qualified Level 5 Arborist and deemed dangerous posing a threat to property and/or human life.
The Arborist assessing the trees must comply with Council’s Tree Management Policy and provide a written assessment with recommendations for removal or lopping.
All submissions must be supported by two (2) written quotes on business letterhead. These quotes need to be provided by a Qualified Level 3 Arborist. Website downloads will not be accepted.
Funding will be provided by EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer). Payment of tax invoices to an approved local supplier and will not be paid in cash or kind to the applicant/resident or supplier.
The Program will reopen on 1 February 2023. Expression of Interest applications close on 30 March 2023. Full works are to be carried out and completed by 30 June 2023 and supplier invoice to be submitted to Wollondilly Shire Council within 2 weeks of completion.
Photo evidence of before and after works will be required and is the responsibility of the property owner.
This grant funding is not available to residents who have already had works undertaken as part of this Community Grant Program.