Coastal Adaptation Decision Pathways projects

The Australian Government has invested $4.5 million to demonstrate effective approaches to adaptation in the coastal zone. Thirteen projects have received funding to develop leading practice approaches to better manage future climate risk to coastal assets and communities. The projects are due for completion in June 2012.

View the list of successful projects.

Background

The Australian Government understands that climate change will lead to considerable risks to assets and productivity in the coastal zone, which will impact on communities. These risks may include more frequent inundation of coastal infrastructure and settlements, increased damage costs to households, more regular disruption to service delivery in areas affected by flooding, loss of natural ecosystems, reduced asset life from accelerated corrosion and degradation, possible reduced access to affordable insurance cover, loss of public and private land through erosion, and greater expenditure on asset repair and maintenance. In a number of coastal areas climate change is likely to require investment in protective works and asset strengthening, or in planned retreat.

There is currently very little information available on the comparative costs and benefits of different adaptation options, and at what timeframe or quantum of climate change a particular adaptation option becomes cost-effective and acceptable. Given the long life of many coastal assets, and the need to avoid the high cost of early "over-engineering", a flexible adaptation pathway can help identify cost-effective steps to build resilience in the context of longer term trends in climate.

The Australian Government is partnering with decision-makers in the coastal zone to explore and demonstrate decision or investment pathways that can build resilience to the increasing risks from future climate impacts. Projects have a focus on the decision pathways that enable the transformation of business operations to prepare for longer-term climate change projections. The objectives of Coastal Adaptation Decision Pathways projects are to:

  • demonstrate the utility of flexible pathways that incorporate future climate risk and adaptation actions into decision-making
  • establish the key partnerships that will position communities in the longer term to drive the reform required to manage climate change risks
  • provide leadership in new approaches to cost-effectively manage legacy asset risk, and
  • enhance the adaptive capacity of governments, communities and infrastructure and service providers through engagement in developing planning for future options.

Selection of projects

EOIs were considered against the relevant criteria and against projects so that a suitable national mix was achieved. Eligible EOIs were assessed against:

  • objectives and criteria
  • appropriate project mix, and
  • time frames for delivery.

The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (department) has worked with selected submissions to develop EOIs into full proposals.

Key dates

  • 23 May 2011—close of EOI process
  • June/July 2011—projects commenced
  • June 2012—projects conclude

Questions and answers

Are reviews and toolkits eligible activities?

A review of current arrangements and recommendations for adaptation pathways to overcome a set of barriers does not adequately address the requirements of the EOI call for partnership arrangements to develop demonstration projects at the transformative end of climate adaptation. Similarly, a proposal to produce a toolkit or decision-framework that is not developed and tested in conjunction with end-users would not satisfy the criteria for eligibility in this EOI call.

Can a proposal include vulnerability and risk assessments?

Proposals should not identify vulnerability or risk assessment as an area of significant activity. It is expected that this information should already be largely available or in a form that can be readily adaptable without significant investment.

What levels of in-kind support are required?

A proposal should be able to demonstrate strong evidence of partner support. This should be in the form of written support signed off by someone with the appropriate delegation. In-principal support, in writing, will also be acceptable for the EOI. Offers of assistance must be able to be translated into a formal contract if the proposal is successful.

Who are appropriate end-users?

End-users are considered to be those agencies, organisations and businesses that have responsibility for managing, ownership of or investment in coastal assets. End-user engagement is central to the success of the Coastal Adaptation Decision Pathways projects. Proposals need to demonstrate ongoing engagement with end-users throughout the project. Proposals also need to provide a clear pathway for the detailed consideration or testing by end-users of any reports or recommendations that arise out of a successful proposal, and how this will be incorporated into the final reports.

Are international collaboration/partnerships acceptable?

The Australian Government has an interest in developing increased capability and an ongoing leadership group for coastal adaptation in Australia. Proposals that include collaboration or partnerships with international experts will be considered where it can be demonstrated that there is a benefit to increasing this capability.

Can proposals incorporate multiple geographically disparate locations?

Yes. In framing proposals consider what:

  • the best partnerships will be for you to deliver the work you propose to do, and
  • can be realistically achieved well and with good value in the time available for the project.

What type of funding agreement is required for successful proposals?

Lead applicants of successful proposals will be required to enter into a funding agreement with the department. Applicants are advised to review the department's generic funding agreement (PDF 541 KB) (RTF 5.5 MB) (DOC 196 KB).

How much funding is available?

A total of $3.2 million is available for the Coastal Adaptation Decision Pathways projects.

What types of activities are eligible for funding?

Projects supported would have a focus on the decision pathways that enable the transformation of business operations to prepare for longer-term climate change projections. Particular issues that could be the focus of a partnership include:

  • demonstration of how decision-making can incorporate flexibility to manage risks of future climate
  • exploration of how to identify and respond to climate-related thresholds and trigger points in decision-making
  • identification of alternative decision pathways for ongoing investment in or the relocation of an asset or settlement, including over decadal timeframes, and
  • analysis of the costs, benefits and trade-offs of investment to build resilience at different time points in the life of an asset.

Projects must be:

  • located in Australia
  • in accordance with the Coastal Adaptation Decision Pathway project objectives
  • robust, innovative and supported by a strong team with a relevant track-record of achievement, and
  • cost-effective and preferably include co-investment; and should be completed within approximately 12 months of project commencement (exceptions may apply where significant partner co-funding is provided).

How much funding is available for each project?

Projects are to be of a sufficient size to achieve outcomes in accordance with the project objectives. While there is no lower limit, individual projects of less than $50,000 may not be able to meet these objectives. The department will consider the overall availability of funds in determining the level of assistance to be provided for each project. The amount of funding offered for any project may not be for the full amount requested.

Proposals need not be limited to individual projects. Examples of possible proposals might be:

  • A consortia including state government agencies and a number of local governments applies for $350,000 to undertake a small number of discrete but inter-related projects to investigate how decision-making can incorporate flexibility to manage risks of future climate as well as an analysis of the costs, benefits and trade-offs of particular investment options. The findings from these smaller projects would be shared across the partnership and would also be nationally relevant.
  • A consortia including a critical infrastructure manager, state government agencies and a number of local government authorities applies for $500,000 to further develop decision pathways, including an investigation of costs, benefits and trade-offs for ongoing investment in or the relocation of at risk (public, private or both) assets or a coastal settlement, including over decadal timeframes.

Do EOIs and full project proposals require GST?

If you or your organisation is registered for GST you will have to pay GST out of your grant funds. We suggest you talk to a tax adviser or the Tax Office about the implications of receiving a government grant.

What are supporting contributions?

Co-investment, including in-kind, is recognised as an important indicator of ownership of the project by partners, however, dollar for dollar matching is not a condition of funding. Supporting contributions can be financial contributions or in-kind support in the form of use of equipment, machinery and materials or donated expertise.

The monetary value of in-kind contributions must be identified. Contributing organisations must confirm their contribution in writing. Supporting contributions can be from any appropriate source including but not limited to: government; industry; academia; non-government organisations and the community sector.

What level of detail is required in my EOI budget?

A fully detailed and final project budget is not required for the EOI, however, enough information should be provided to enable the department to adequately assess the cost-effectiveness and value of the proposal, including in-kind support.

When will the funding commence?

Funding is available for eligible and approved projects to commence in June 2011.

When do projects start and end?

Most projects will commence in June 2011 and should be completed by mid-2012. Exceptions for project completion may apply where significant partner co-funding is provided.

Will there be a further round of funding?

This is a one-off funding process.

What activities are not eligible for funding?

Funding will not be provided for:

  • Salaries of those not directly employed on the project.
  • Purchase of major capital items (e.g. computer hardware and software, media equipment) other than specific equipment related to the project.
  • Risk assessment only.
  • Physical infrastructure or coastal protection works for climate change adaptation.
  • Cost of preparing the original application, preparing any project variation requests, and preparing any project reports required under the agreement (with the exception of the costs of an independent audit report).
  • Cost of obtaining resources, contractors or permits for the project, including interest on loans, job advertising and recruiting, and contract negotiations.
  • Day-to-day operating costs of the organisation, including insurance, office accommodation, telephone and internet costs, general communications, accommodation, office computing facilities, printing and stationery, postage, legal and accounting fees, bank charges and overheads (that is, expenses that are incurred whether or not you do the project).
  • Activities required by law.
  • Devolved grants: A proposal will be judged to be a devolved grant where an applicant applies for funds to hold a competitive process with those funds according to the applicant's own criteria.

Only expenditure incurred on agreed project activities within the agreed project period (set out in the funding agreement) will be eligible expenditure. The funding recipient must ensure it has adequate funds to meet the cost of any ineligible expenditure associated with the project. Other activities or specific expenditure may be ineligible because the Program Manager decides it does not directly support the achievement of the planned outcomes of the project or to be contrary to the spirit and intention of the project.

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