Horticultural Netting Program – Trial Expansion

The Australian Government’s Horticultural Netting Program – Trial Expansion aims at helping primary producers of commercial horticulture crops offset the cost of purchasing and installing horticultural netting to increase crop productivity and reduce the adverse impacts of weather events and animal predation on commercial horticulture crops.

The grant amount available is 50 percent of the cost of purchasing and installing horticultural netting on existing horticulture produce up to a maximum amount of $300,000.

The maximum cumulative level of assistance that may be received from this program and the Horticultural Netting Program—Trial (for Apple and Pear Growers) which is administered by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is $300,000.

QRIDA administers this Horticultural Netting Program – Trial Expansion Grant on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the grant you must be a primary producer and:

• protective netting must be purchased and installed after 16 December 2019 for apple and pear crops and after 14 December 2021 for all other horticultural crops;
• the land on which netting is to be installed must have an established use of horticultural production prior to 16 December 2019 for apple and pear crops, and prior to 14 December 2021 for all other horticultural crops; and
• protective netting must be purchased and installed to increase horticultural productivity, by reducing the impacts of adverse weather events or animal predation, and to reduce water usage.

Benefits

Horticultural Netting Grants may be used for:

1. the purchase cost of permanent protective netting, throw-over netting, and associated infrastructure such as poles (either new infrastructure or replacement of existing infrastructure that has been damaged or requires replacing);
2. costs associated with engaging contractors to install the permanent protective netting and associated infrastructure; and
3. costs directly associated with engaging contractors to conduct preparatory activities directly necessary for the installation of permanent protective netting (e.g. costs of removing existing netting)

Application process

Applications must be submitted online to QRIDA accompanied by:

• quotes or invoices associated with costs for new permanent netting infrastructure. (These quotes or invoices should reflect current market prices for goods and services being purchased. QRIDA may request further quotations be provided to substantiate requests); and
• evidence of payment for the tax invoice(s). For example, an official receipt(s) from the provider or a copy of the applicant’s bank transfer(s) or bank statement(s);
• any additional documents stated in the online application form.

The program will close to applications on 30 April 2024 or when available funds have been allocated. Approximately $11 million in total is available from the Australian Government to Queensland under this scheme. The Queensland Government will not be liable to pay any grants under the scheme should Australian Government funding be exhausted.

Apply here.

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