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 sought by this tender, please ask. 

NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust experts will conduct an initial desktop review and advise whether your property is likely to meet the vegetation and/or condition requirements being sought.

To have your site assessed, submit an expression of interest to enter a conservation agreement.

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.

Weeds and pests can be just as much a threat to biodiversity as they are to agriculture. In preparing your bid for the tender, you are encouraged to consider how much it will cost to manage pests and weeds in a proposed conservation area. Management of pests and weeds may involve engaging contractors, hiring equipment and/or purchasing chemicals. Participation in the tender program offers you the opportunity to access ongoing assistance for weed and pest management.

Conservation areas require ongoing management, and you will be setting a bid price that considers the cost to manage weeds, pests and biomass levels. If successful, you will receive annual payments toward the conservation management activity you have costed and has been agreed to in your conservation management plan. This means both you, and all future owners, will receive payments to manage threats to the continued biodiversity of your site.

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.