Horticultural Netting Program - Trial Expansion
The program offers co-contribution grants of up to $300,000 to help primary producers of commercial horticultural crops offset the cost of purchasing and installing horticultural netting.
Program information
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 per cent of the cost of purchasing and installing horticultural netting on existing horticulture produce, or on horticulture produce to be established on areas with crop growing history, 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.
Am I Eligible?
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.
How funding may be used
Horticultural Netting Grants may be used for:
- the purchase cost of permanent protective netting (including shade cloth), throw over netting and associated infrastructure such as poles (either new infrastructure or replacement of existing infrastructure that has been damaged or requires replacing);
- costs associated with engaging contractors to install the permanent protective netting and associated infrastructure; and
- 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)
Read the guidelines to find out how funding may not be used.
How to apply
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 addition 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.
Frequently asked questions
Horticultural crops for the purposes of the scheme includes the following activities:
- nursery and floriculture production;
- mushroom and vegetable growing;
- fruit and tree nut growing excluding grapes used for production within viticulture.
Yes, you may apply for conditional approval before purchasing or installing netting.
In these circumstances you will be required to provide quotes to support your application.
Yes, however protective netting must have been purchased and installed after 16 December 2019 for apple and pear crops and 14 December 2021 for all other horticultural crops.
Horticultural crops for the purposes of the scheme includes the following activities:
- nursery and floriculture production;
- mushroom and vegetable growing;
- fruit and tree nut growing excluding grapes used for production within viticulture.
No, if an applicant is registered for GST, the assistance will be calculated calculated based on eligible costs excluding GST.
Grant funding is not guaranteed at any stage of the application process and applications will be assessed on a competitive basis.
Yes, you can apply again on invoices you have not already received payment on through DAF. The amount you have received under the DAF program counts towards the $300,000 maximum under the program. For example if you have already received $100,000 from DAF under the Horticulture Netting Apple and Pear program you can receive no more than $200,000 through QRIDA.
You will also be required to consent to DAF providing information on your Horticulture Netting (Apple and Pear) program including the invoices paid to QRIDA.
A primary producer is either
- a sole trader who
- spends the majority of the person’s labour on a primary production enterprise; and
- derives the majority of the person’s income from the primary production enterprise; or
- a partnership, company or trust that carries on a primary production enterprise, any partners, shareholders, or beneficiaries
- spend the majority of their labour on a primary production enterprise; and
- derive the majority of their income from the primary production enterprise.
A primary production enterprise is an enterprise that:
- is carried on by a sole trader, trust, partnership or proprietary company; and
- that involves primary production, including the agricultural, apicultural, aqua cultural, forestry, grazing and horticultural industries; and
- holds an Australian Business Number (ABN).
Yes, you are entitled to a decision review. See reviewing a decision for more information.
