Albury City

2022/23 Community Energy Fund

Submissions closed at 12:00PM 28 January 2022 (AEDT).

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

Eligible lessees of AlburyCity buildings and facilities are invited to consider apply for funding under AlburyCity's Community Energy Fund Program. Applications are to be lodged with Council by 28 January 2022.

Successful applicants are to use funds to implement energy saving measures and/or renewable energy installations during 2022/23.  Funding is not to be sought for projects that have already been funded by other means or have commenced. However, funding can be sought for measures that are additional to existing energy saving measures and/or renewable energy installations.

Projects cannot commence until the successful applicants have been notified by Council, and a project schedule has been agreed with Council. 

A ‘panel’ will assess applications lodged with Council.  Recommendations arising from this panel will be approved by Council in its June 2022 meeting cycle. 

Applicants will need to be mindful that this process could be delayed. This delay could be due to a range of reasons including needing to undertake a structural integrity assessment to install rooftop solar system. Please contact Council if you require further information.

Project funding will be offered in the following categories:

  1. Energy saving measure – energy efficient upgrades to fixed lighting (e.g. LED downlights, security lights, and fluorescents replacements) and/or fixed equipment as supplied by Council (e.g. Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning).
  2. Renewable Energy- installation of solar panels and/or batteries.

Guidelines and Criteria

Grant applications will receive a higher priority if the following criteria are demonstrated to be met:

  • Application made by a community group and/or not-for-profit whom leases the applicable AlburyCity asset.
  • Encourages community participation in the project.
  • The project has been developed in consultation with other users of the facility.
  • Will create opportunities to enhance skills, improve social cohesion and connections, and increase community participation in activities at the facility.
  • Will provide opportunities for sections of the community that do not normally access programs or activities.
  • Has undertaken some form of assessment and/or identified potential energy saving measures for the facility.
  • A financial contribution from the Applicant or the applicant’s organisation to co-fund the project up to 50% of total project cost, and that the applicant’s funding is available prior to implementation of the project.
  • Energy saving measures have been or will be completed prior to renewable energy systems being installed.
  • Provide copies of electricity and/or gas invoices to Council for the past 12 months.
  • Commitment to provide electricity and/or gas invoices to Council for 2 years after completion of the project.
  • Commitment to provide Council with online access to PV system for monitoring purposes (where applicable).

Generally, grant applications will receive a lower priority if:

  • No financial contribution from the Applicant to co-fund the project.
  • No additional social benefit to the community, particularly those that use the facility.
  • The AlburyCity facility is leased by a business operator; unless the applicant can demonstrate the financial saving will be passed on.

Funding will not be available for the following:

  • Buildings and Facilities that are not owned by Albury City Council
  • Applications that do not involve measures that will improve the energy efficiency or generate renewable energy at the facility.
  • A contribution towards operating costs.
  • An organisation with substantial unallocated financial resources.
  • Recurrent salary costs or contribution to salary costs of existing positions in an organisation.
  • Projects that are or have the potential to be entirely or significantly funded from other sources (e.g. fees or sponsorship).
  • Projects that are currently funded by AlburyCity, whether cash or in-kind.

Many minor and low impact works don't need development of construction approval, as long as they fully comply with the exempt development stnadards as set out by the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008. It’s important to be aware that although your building works may not need a development or construction approval from us, they may involve work that requires other types of approval. For example, if you’re undertaking plumbing works, you may need to apply for a plumbing approval. Additional information is available on the AlburyCity website. 

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Welcome to the AlburyCity online grant application service, powered by SmartyGrants.

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

For queries about the guidelines, deadlines, or questions in the form, please contact Amber Rodd on 0260238111 during business hours or email info@alburycity.nsw.gov.au and quote your submission number.

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.