Grant Guidelines - Fine-scale climate projections for Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government is committed to taking practical climate action and providing the Tasmanian community with accurate and scientifically robust information to increase the resilience of Tasmanian communities to the changing climate.

To continue to provide accurate, up-to-date and relevant data to a range of stakeholders, the Tasmanian Government is seeking to produce new fine‑scale resolution climate projections for Tasmania.

This grant program will support Tasmanians to better understand Tasmania’s future climate and make informed decisions through the delivery of new fine-scale climate projections data, based on the latest global climate models, and a series of associated interpretive materials.

This program is administered by the Climate Change Office in Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania (ReCFIT), Department of State Growth, on behalf of the Crown in Right of Tasmania.

1.1. Objectives

The objectives of the program are:

• Production of comprehensive fine‑scale resolution climate projections data for Tasmania, in line with the specifications in these guidelines.
• Communication of the projected climate impacts for Tasmania through a range of tailored interpretive materials and communication tools designed to enable non-expert stakeholders to understand and apply the new climate projections.

1.2. Outcomes

Expected outcomes of this program:

• Enhanced understanding of projected climate change impacts for Tasmania in the short‑, medium‑ and long‑term, through continuous data through to the year 2100, across a range of variables and future climate scenarios.
• Improved accessibility and increased use of climate projections data through interpretive materials and communication tools tailored to the needs of Tasmanian stakeholders.

The Tasmanian Government has allocated $1,800,000 to support development of new fine-scale climate projections data and interpretive materials.

This is a competitive grant program. Applications will be competitively assessed using the assessment criteria and funded based on a comparative rating scale.

To be eligible for a grant your entity must:

• Be registered for tax purposes in Australia, with a continuously active Australian Business Number (ABN) on or before 8 April 2024.

Exceptions may be considered, for example:

• you have purchased a business that was actively trading for at least 12 months before 8 April 2024.
• you have changed your business structure which has resulted in a new active ABN issued after 8April 2024, but the business has been in operation for at least 12 months at the time of applying for the grant.

Note: you will be required to show relevant evidence to support your application.

• Be registered for GST.
• Be able to provide your most recent financial statements.
• Be willing, and legally and technically able, to offer the data and interpretive materials funded through this grant freely to the public in perpetuity. The applicant will retain all intellectual property rights and interests.
• Supply readable copies of all information and documentation requested in the grant application form.

We may ask you to provide additional information or documentation to support your eligibility claims, either as part of the application process or after you have submitted your application.

We may use a third-party to check the authenticity of the information you provide.

Regardless of whether you meet the other eligibility criteria, you will NOT be eligible for a grant if you are:

• an individual or sole trader
• a local government or Tasmanian Government entity
• an entity whose primary purpose is political activity
• an otherwise eligible entity that has overdue obligations, or is engaged in a dispute, with an existing grant with the Department of State Growth
• an otherwise eligible entity that is subject to any legal disability, including bankruptcy or liquidation, including pending proceedings.

We will not assess applications from ineligible applicants.

If you have any questions about who can apply or the eligibility criteria, please contact the Climate Change Office by email: climatechange@recfit.tas.gov.au or phone: 03 6166 4466.

We encourage applicants to work in partnership with others to deliver on the objectives of this grant program. Applications that can demonstrate sound expertise both in climate modelling capability, and in the communication and delivery of complex information to non-technical audiences, particularly climate science information, will perform strongly against the assessment criteria (see Section 8).

For example, a climate modelling group may arrange to work with a science communication expert to deliver the project.

Partners are not required to meet the eligibility criteria provided the lead entity is an eligible applicant.

If your project design includes a partnership, your application will need to include details of how the partnership will work, including:

• identification of the roles and responsibilities of each entity in the partnership
• how you (the lead entity) will engage with your partners to successfully facilitate the project, and
• a letter of support from each partner detailing the partner’s contribution to the project, including any financial, resourcing, expertise, or in-kind support.

As the grant applicant and lead entity, you will hold full responsibility for the project, including any insurance, legal, financial, and liability associated with delivering the project in accordance with the grant agreement.

We recognise the crucial role of future climate information in decision making by community, industry and governments. This program aims to develop a comprehensive set of high-resolution climate projections data and associated materials for Tasmania for use across a wide range of applications.

This guideline sets out the minimum and desirable requirements for you to consider and address in your application.

1.1. Project details

It is expected that applicants will submit documents with their application that describe:

• a project methodology that will produce a set of projections data outputs and interpretive materials that meets the grant objectives and addresses the essential requirements set out in Appendix 1 of this guideline.
• robust plans for how the identified specification and set of outputs will be delivered, including within the preferred delivery timeframe, namely:
  • commencement of the project on or before 31 July 2025.
  • completion of the project on or before 20 December 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter, noting that applications that show effective use of time will perform strongly against the assessment criteria (see Section 8).
• a project budget that shows the expected expenses for each stage of the project, and total expenses that are equal to or higher than the total funding amount requested.
• a project team with the skills and experience to execute the plan and deliver the specified outputs within the timeframe and budget.

1.2. Detailed specifications

The climate projections funded through this grant are to be developed using global climate model data produced as part of the sixth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6).

Full technical specifications are detailed in Appendix 1. These specifications are informed by analysis of the needs of a range of stakeholders identified by the Climate Change Office, in collaboration with the University of Tasmania.

We encourage you to use the provided specification as a starting point for the project methodology you present in your application. We recognise the complexity of climate modelling and depth of technical understanding suitably qualified applicants will hold.

To assist with comparable assessment of applications, it is expected that your application will identify where your proposed specification differs from the technical specification. Unless clearly highlighted in this manner, it will be assumed that you will deliver your project in line with the technical specification.

Your application should also identify the interpretive materials that you will produce, guided by the interpretive materials specification also included in Appendix 1.

This program will not fund projects that:

• have already commenced, been publicly announced, or been completed
• are already being supported through another Tasmanian Government funding source
• do not explicitly agree to, and include a mechanism for, the project outputs to be freely and publicly accessible in perpetuity to the public
• are designed to pass on the entirety of the grant funding to third parties
• request a funding amount that includes any of the following ineligible expenses:
  • purchase of any assets that will not be owned and/or controlled by the applicant or the grantor
  • costs not directly related to the project, including marketing, advertising, or promotional costs above what is requested in this program guideline; organisation operating costs; insurance, staff training; maintenance and travel costs
  • gifts or sponsorship
  • costs related to preparing the grant application and any project variation requests
  • purchase of uniforms
  • lease or purchase of land or buildings
  • debt financing and financing costs, including interest.

Your application must demonstrate that you are an eligible applicant (see Section 3).

Applications that meet the eligibility requirements will then be assessed competitively, based on the evidence you provide in the application, against the following four assessment criteria.

An Assessment Panel will be established comprising individuals with relevant knowledge and experience to assess a complex grant of this nature.

Applications will be assessed based on the extent to which they meet the eligibility and assessment criteria detailed in these program guidelines, compared to other applications received.

During the assessment process the department may, at its discretion, ask you for more information to clarify your application. This information must be provided within three working days, unless otherwise advised. Failure to provide further requested information within the timeframe may result in the application being unsuccessful.

Applications will not be accepted after the program closes.

For queries about this program, contact the Climate Change Office by email at climatechange@recfit.tas.gov.au or by phone: 03 6166 4466.

Applications should be submitted using SmartyGrants.

For assistance with using SmartyGrants, please see the applicant help guide.

Contact us to discuss any issue preventing you from using SmartyGrants to submit your application.

1. Prepare: Read the program guidelines and any frequently asked questions (FAQs) before starting your application. The application form is designed to help structure your responses to the eligibility and assessment criteria.
2. Be informed: A briefing will be provided to all applicants at the opening of the application period. To register to attend the briefing, and for more information, please email climatechange@recfit.tas.gov.au.
3. Start: The application form is available at stategrowthtas.smartygrants.com.au/FSCPT
4. Confirm: Ensure all information and documentation is accurate and attached. You may not be able to change an application or provide additional information after you submit your application.
5. Submit: You will receive an email notification after you submit your application. This receipt will include details of the application and a unique application ID. Keep this notification as confirmation of your submission.
6. Assessment: Applications will be assessed by a panel as outlined in the Assessment process.
7. Notification: We will notify you of the outcome of your application.

You may be asked to provide information or documentation after you have submitted your application.

You must provide this information within three working days, unless otherwise advised. Failure to provide the information within the timeframe may result in the application being unsuccessful.

The information you provide may be subject to third party authenticity checks.

If your application is successful, you will be required to enter a legally binding funding agreement.

The form and terms and conditions of the agreement will be determined by the department and, together with the application form and the program guidelines, will form the funding agreement.

The agreement will specify any reporting requirements and conditions for acknowledging this grant program as a funding source.

You will not receive payment until the funding agreement is completed.

If your application is unsuccessful, you may appeal the decision.

The appeals process ensures that all applicants have been treated fairly.

We will consider appeals that relate to administrative process issues in grants management.

All appeal requests must be in writing and addressed to the Director Climate Change. Your request must be received within 28 days from the date of State Growth notifying you of the decision about your application.

For further information about the appeal process, contact climatechange@recfit.tas.gov.au

If your application is successful, you will be asked to supply the details of a dedicated bank account for your entity to receive and manage your grant funding.

The bank account must be in the same name as the entity that applied for the grant. You may be asked to provide a copy of your bank statement or a letter from your bank as confirmation.

Providing incorrect bank account details may result in significant delays or not receiving your grant payment. We cannot guarantee the recovery of funds paid to an incorrect bank account.

15.1. Payment milestones

Funds will be approved for drawdown from this account when the grant payment milestones specified in the grant agreement are met to the satisfaction of the grantor. These milestones are:

After successful completion of each milestone, the grant funds will be able to be drawn down from the grant account by the recipient.

15.2. Return of funds

You will be required to return some or all of the funds if:

• you do not complete the activities required under the funding agreement
• you do not use any or all of the funding provided
• your situation changes in a way that prevents completion of the grant, or
• we find that the information provided to us is false or misleading.

The successful applicants will be required to share data and information from the project with the department. Data and information sharing with nominated third parties may also be required. The terms of the information and data sharing will be agreed in the grant funding agreement.

Grants distributed under this program may be treated as income by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

We strongly recommend that, prior to applying, you seek independent advice from a tax advisor, financial advisor or the ATO, about the possible tax implications of receiving the grant.

Grants distributed under this program attract Goods and Services Tax (GST).

If you are registered for GST, the grant amount will be grossed up to include GST. The successful applicant must supply a valid tax invoice to State Growth.

Information on invoices can be found on our Business Tasmania website: www.business.tas.gov.au/manage_a_business/invoices

If your application is successful, you will be required to report on the status of your project every six months, as detailed in your funding agreement.

You will also need to provide an acquittal at the conclusion of your project. An acquittal is a statement that confirms the grant was completed as per the funding agreement.

18.1. How to acquit your grant

We will send you an acquittal form using SmartyGrants.

Your acquittal must provide evidence of the outcomes of the grant and how the funds were spent. This must include a written report and associated attachments including:

• details of the projections data produced
• details of the location of data and communication materials, to be freely available to the Tasmanian public in perpetuity
• copies of any interpretive materials including but not limited to: written documents produced, video files, or other communications materials included as a part of the interpretive materials
• copies of invoices and receipts
• an account of the total income and expenditure for the project.

18.2. Failure to complete an acquittal

If you do not satisfactorily acquit your grant by the due date:

• you may be required to return the funding to State Growth, and
• you may be ineligible for other grants from State Growth.

Contact us to discuss any issue preventing you from acquitting your grant.

State Growth is accountable for its spending of public funds, including providing grants. As part of the accountability process, State Growth may publicise, without further notice, information about the grants provided, including the level of financial assistance, the identity of the recipient, and the purpose of the financial assistance.

If you have received a grant from State Growth:

• despite any confidentiality or intellectual property right subsisting in the grant funding agreement or deed, a party may publish all or any part of the grant funding agreement or deed without reference to another party, and you consent to the disclosure of your name in this context
• all obligations under the Personal Information Protection Act 2004 (Tas) still apply.

You must take care to provide true and accurate information. Any information that is found to be false or misleading may result in action being taken and grant funds, if already provided, may be required to be repaid to State Growth.

Information provided to State Growth may be subject to disclosure in accordance with the Right to Information Act 2009.

Personal information will be managed in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act 2004. This information may be accessed by the individual to whom it relates, on request to State Growth.

State Growth may use and disclose the information you provide for the purposes of discharging its functions under the program guidelines and otherwise for the purposes of the program and related uses. State Growth may also use information received in applications and during the delivery of the project for reporting purposes.

Although care has been taken in the preparation of this document, no warranty, express or implied, is given by the Crown in Right of Tasmania, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information it contains.

The Crown in Right of Tasmania accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage that may arise from anything contained in or omitted from or that may arise from the use of this document, and any person relying on this document and the information it contains does so at their own risk absolutely.

The Crown in Right of Tasmania does not accept liability or responsibility for any loss incurred by an applicant that are in any way related to the program.

It is expected that the successful applicant will deliver data and information that meets the following specifications at a minimum. Your proposed data specification should be detailed at length in your application, including addressing any specific details referenced in the notes in this Appendix. Your application should particularly highlight any diversions from the specified minimum requirements, referencing the attribute identifiers where relevant.

A list of priority and desirable data points and related variables to be produced under this grant is below. At a minimum, the data produced should meet the minimum CORDEX requirements to ensure the data set is CORDEX compliant.

It is expected that applicants will also include a range of other desirable variables and indices in their methodology, including some or all of those listed below.

A list of inclusions is to be provided in your application, with the relevant identifier (for example PV1.2) provided where relevant.

The successful applicant is expected to produce a range of high-quality interpretive materials to support communication of the technical data.

A list of essential and desirable interpretive material outputs is provided below. We encourage you to consider the likely needs of Tasmanian stakeholders, and similar resources offered for similar purposes, particularly by other jurisdictions in Australia, to inform the inclusions you propose within your methodology.

A list of materials to be developed through your project is to be provided in your application. Please reference the interpretive material identifier where relevant.

All materials produced will be subject to accessibility requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and compliance with the Tasmanian Government requirements for accessible and inclusive communications (refer to www.tas.gov.au/communications/accessibility-and-inclusivity).