Conservation tender FAQs

No. It's simply an opportunity to explore further whether you are eligible to enter a conservation agreement under this tender. 

If you're unsure about whether your property has the vegetation types targeted by this tender, please still submit an EOI and map the area you believe is most representative of the target vegetation type.

Our experts will then conduct an initial desktop eligibility review and advise whether your property meets requirements.

If your site progresses through eligibility stage, your site will then be assessed to confirm the target vegetation and condition.

Entering into a conservation agreement and designating land on your property as an area for conservation is a decision for you. If successful you will receive annual payments to manage the land for conservation outcomes, regardless of the seasonal conditions or commodity prices. The conservation management actions you take with these payments can sit alongside and complement productive activity on your property.

Yes, control of environment weeds and pests is a standard obligation in a conservation agreement, with weeds and pests as much a threat to biodiversity as they are to agriculture. Participation in the tender program offers you the opportunity to access ongoing funding for weed and pest management. In preparing your bid for the tender, you are encouraged to consider how much it will cost to manage environmental pests and weeds in a proposed conservation area. An initial site assessment with a NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust Officer will support you in identifying pests and weeds to be managed and consider in your costings. They will also explain the conservation management standards you are expected to meet. Management of pests and weeds may involve engaging contractors, purchasing equipment and purchasing chemicals.

Conservation areas require ongoing management for the duration of the agreement. This includes standard pest and weed control and within designated areas of your site. If, after entering an expression of interest to a tender, you are found eligible for a site assessment, you will work with one of our local officers to establish a management plan best suited for your conservation area. Based on the type and level of weeds and pests on your property, we will include the required control measures and targets in the management plan.

For our general guidance on bush fire hazard reduction, please review the information in this fact sheet.

The potential impact of a conservation agreement on land value depends on a number of factors. Property buyers may see the agreement as something of interest and value, particularly if they are interested in sustainable production and bushland amenity. Unlike many previous conservation programs, this tender provides a guaranteed annual income source that may be considered as an asset at point-of-sale.

However, conservation agreements do provide some restrictions on land use activities that may impact the value of the property and/or change the type of person interested in purchasing your property. You are encouraged to carefully consider the design of your conservation area and the decision to enter a conservation agreement and seek independent legal and financial advice before doing so.

Land that is subject to a conservation agreement is exempt from council rates under section 555(1)(b1) of the Local Government Act 1993.

Yes. This program does not offer Local Land Service (LLS) rate relief. Landholders may consider costs, such as LLS rates, in developing a bid for the tender.

No. It is on the land's title, and the agreed conservation outcomes are secure for the term of the agreement - even if the land is sold. This is important to secure the long-term conservation outcomes your land offers under the agreement. Conservation agreements are offered for a fixed term: from a minimum of 15 years through to in-perpetuity agreements. To reflect the value of long-term conservation outcomes, bids that propose an in-perpetuity agreement will be valued more highly.

Unfortunately, no. Not all sites can receive a site assessment. Sites will be prioritised for assessment on the basis of information provided by the landholder at the expression of interest (EOI) stage, and against eligibility criteria for the proposed area.

Furthermore, a site assessment is not a guarantee you will receive funding. 

Tenders are a competitive process aimed at investing in the best-value-for-money sites. 

The tender Landholder Guide will provide information about the eligibility and assessment of sites.

We’d love for you to be involved in supporting conservation on your property, and there will be voluntary opportunities open to you now, and in the future. 

The types of agreements you may wish to explore are:

• Voluntary conservation agreements, offering rebates and the opportunity to apply for grants to protect habitat and species on your property.
• Future fixed price offers, offering the opportunity to receive a set annual payment to manage priority habitats.
• Future conservation tenders, offering the opportunity to set a price to manage priority habitats.
• Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements, offering the opportunity to manage your conservation area through the sale of biodiversity credits.

Each type of agreement has different eligibility and conditions. Please speak to a NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust staff member about what is best suited to your proposed conservation site.

Yes, the owner of a conservation agreement receiving annual payments, has an annual reporting obligation and must submit a report for approval within 14 days of the date designated the end of the assigned reporting period.

Agreement-holders must submit their report using a specific reporting template which documents satisfactory completion of each funded management action of that reporting period, with attached support evidence.

Evidence can vary depending on the nature of the management action. For example, photographs may be appropriate to demonstrate completion of a particular milestone, or, where the management action requires works, appropriate evidence can be receipts from the contractor demonstrating work has been carried out.

We recommend when setting a bid price to enter a competitive conservation tender, consider the labour and supply cost of annual monitoring and reporting.

The amounts specified as Payment Amounts in the Payment Table are present values and are exclusive of GST (for GST registered landowners) and that each amount is to be increased to the amount which is "PA" in the formula below:

PA = AxB/C

A: is the dollar value of the amount, as set out in the Payment Table prior to indexation by CPI.

B: is the CPI for the June Quarter published immediately prior to the date payment is due to be made.

C: is the CPI for the June Quarter published immediately prior to the agreement date.