Part 1: About the Reef Trust Tender— Burdekin 1.1 The long term protection and conservation of the Great Barrier Reef (the Reef) is the primary focus of the Australian Government’s $140 million Reef Trust (the Programme). Reef Trust funds will be invested over the next four years (2015 - 2019) in a range of projects that address the highest priority threats to the Reef. One of threats is runoff from agricultural land in the Reef catchments. Pollutants including sediments, nutrients and pesticides are making their way to the coast and having a detrimental impact on Reef water quality and overall health and resilience. Reef Trust Tender – Burdekin (this Project) is a phase II Reef Trust investment that will address nitrogen discharge from the Burdekin natural resource management region (the Burdekin). A similar project is being delivered across 2014 – 2018 in the Wet Tropics (for more information about the Reef Trust Tender - Wet Tropics, visit ). As a major source of nitrogen discharge has been linked to fertiliser use in the sugar cane industry, this Project offers funding to sugar cane farmers to reduce the amount of nitrogen applied to their farm/s. By improving nitrogen management practices at the farm scale, sugar cane farmers can improve the sustainability of their business and help ensure less nitrogen is lost to the Reef. This Project is intended to run from 2015 - 2018. This Project is voluntary and up to $2.5 million (GST exclusive) is available for grants awarded through one Competitive Tender round (the Competitive Tender). Advantages of using a Competitive Tender include: flexibility for sugar cane farmers to determine their Proposed Nitrogen Application, how they attain it and the amount of funding to request, and the use of an objective cost-effectiveness metric to compare and prioritise Tenders. Table 1 shows the funding available across each financial year of this Project. 1: Indicative Project budget (GST exclusive) 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 Total $500,996 $1,001,990 $1,001,990 $2,504,976 Further information on the Reef Trust Tender – Burdekin can be found at: ; and 1.2 The objectives of this Project are: long-term reduction in nitrogen discharge from the Burdekin sugar cane industry; increased engagement, participation and
uptake of improved nitrogen and irrigation management practices; and cost-effective investment in improving Reef water quality. The desired outcomes of this Project are to: achieve reduction in dissolved inorganic nitrogen lost to the Reef while maintaining farm yield; increase the number of farmers across the Burdekin implementing improved nitrogen and irrigation management practices; and promote adoption of best practice farm management through Smartcane BMP. This Project is not aimed at reducing crop yield. 1.3 There are two stages to this Project: an Expression of Interest stage for sugar cane farmers to register their interest; and the Reverse Auction where sugar cane farmers submit Tenders seeking funding to improve their nitrogen and irrigation management practices. Figure 1 shows the overall process for delivery of this Project. Tenders will be evaluated based on value for money in improving nitrogen fertiliser management and improving irrigation management practices. A Nitrogen Management Calculator has been developed for Applicants when preparing their Tenders. This will assist Applicants to determine their Baseline Nitrogen Applied and a tailored Proposed Nitrogen Application, which are required for Tender evaluation. See ‘The Nitrogen Management Calculator’ section for more information at Appendix 1. Successful Applicants will be invited to enter into a Grant Contract to implement their management improvements for the duration of the Grant Contract (ending June 2018). In return, they will receive the funds requested in their Tender. Applicants can withdraw from the Competitive Tender at any time before signing a Grant Contract. Grant funding is intended to be paid in the following installments: 20% of the Tender Price at commencement of Grant Contract in financial year 2015/2016, 40% of the Tender in financial year 2016/2017, and 40% of the Tender in financial year 2017/2018. There are a range of parameters around who and what this Project will fund that are described in the following sections. 1.4 Table 2: Key steps and timing. Key Step Timing Sugar cane farmers register an Expression of Interest 18 November - 2pm 07 December 2015 Information sessions held at local shed meetings October - November 2015 Applicants submit a Tender (Reverse Auction is open) 10 December 2015 – 18 February 2016 Assessment and approval process NQ Dry Tropics conducts any required site visits February – March 2016 Applicants are notified of the outcome of their Tender March 2016 Successful Applicants are invited to sign a Grant Contract March – April 2016 To be eligible for the Project, cane farmers must register their interest through the Expression of Interest stage before 2pm (AEST) on 07 December 2015.