Infrastructure Grants

The Australian Government’s Housing Support Program (HSP) is one of a range of programs designed to help achieve National Housing Accord’s target of building 1.2 million new, well-located homes over 5 years from 1 July 2024. The HSP will support the delivery of increased housing supply by funding projects that seek to deliver enabling infrastructure, provide amenities to support new housing development or improve building planning capability.

This first Stream (HSP 1) is designed to provide resources to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of planning process, so that housing construction can commence sooner, support increasing housing in well-located areas, or encourage development in line with the national blueprint.

Applications can only be made by a state government, territory government or local government authority (LGA). Applications in partnership with other government and non-government entities are eligible to apply, but the lead applicant must be a state, territory or local government authority.

To be eligible, the project must improve planning capability. Examples of eligible projects could include, but are not limited to:

• New pathways for planners and related professions to enter the industry
• Tools to streamline planning systems and improve efficient decision making
• Sharing of resources between local governments
• Resources to support master planning and planning reform.

Planning capability projects can support the delivery of housing outcomes either directly (for example by increasing the efficiency of the development approval process) or indirectly (for example by increasing the workforce trained to do planning and related work).

This program will co-fund energy efficiency and electrification upgrades for local governments to deliver reduced energy bills and emissions from local government owned and/or operated facilities.

The objectives of the program are to support:

• the Government’s broader efforts to reduce emissions and improve energy performance and contribute to Australia meeting its emission reduction targets of 43 percent by 2030, Net-Zero emissions by 2050 and 82% renewable electricity generation by 2030
• local governments to decarbonise their operations and reduce energy bills through energy efficiency and load flexibility upgrades and electrification of their facilities
• the improvement in energy performance necessary to more easily utilise renewable electricity and improve system reliability.

The intended outcomes of the program are:

• reduced energy bills and emissions from local government owned and/or operated facilities
• installed energy efficiency, load flexibility and electrification technology that is commercially available
• improved capability of local governments and the wider community to implement energy upgrades and electrification projects in their facilities.
• increased capacity of domestic supply chains and labour force to support significant future investment in energy efficiency upgrades
• improved workforce skills in delivering and operating energy transition projects.

This grant was launched in early 2024 to fund road safety treatments. $91.8 million of funding is available to councils across NSW.

The outcomes and objectives of the program are to: 

• Deliver lifesaving road safety treatments on remote, regional, and urban roads. 

• Implement treatments that deliver improved Road Safety Outcomes linked to the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30 and the National Road Safety Action Plan 2023-25, as well as the NSW Governments Road Safety Action Plan 2026. The goal of this Program is to reduce fatal injuries by 50 per cent and serious injuries by 30 per cent on NSW roads by 2030. 

• Improve risk ratings on roads to a minimum of ‘three-star’ rating on high-risk highways and arterial roads.  

• Improved protection for vulnerable road users, particularly on urban footpaths, shared pathways, cycleways and road crossings.

This Program contains 4 sub-programs: 

1. School Zone Infrastructure sub-program   

2. Heavy Vehicle Rest Area sub-program – State roads only 

3. Walking and Cycling Infrastructure sub-program 

4. Pedestrian Protection sub-program. 

This program provides re-imbursement funding to support regional and remote airports to meet requirements of the Screener Accreditation Scheme. The program aims to provide transitional support through the implementation of the new scheme with funding concluding in 2024.

The objectives of the program are to:

• support regional and remote airports to meet requirements of the Screener Accreditation Scheme
• increase the delivery and effectiveness of education, training and testing for screening officers and air cargo examination officers
• reduce the cost burden of airport security to regional airports
• support regional airport compliance with the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004.

The purpose of the LRCI Program is to support local councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across the nation, supporting jobs and delivering benefits to local communities.

Phase 4 of the LRCI Program will open from 1 July 2023 and Grant Agreements will be sent to eligible Funding Recipients for review and signature. Once the Grant Agreements have been returned and executed by the Department, councils will be invited to submit project nominations via a work schedule to the department.

From 1 July 2023, the eligible construction time period (ECTP) commences. Project construction can only begin once Project Nominations are approved by the Department. Projects are required to be physically completed by 30 June 2025.

Phase 4 of the LRCI Program continues to be a temporary, targeted measure supporting local infrastructure, jobs, firms, and procurement. As with the earlier Phases of the LRCI Program, Eligible Funding Recipients can select a broad range of projects to fund so that communities can continue to be provided with the infrastructure they require. It is expected that Eligible Funding Recipients will use local businesses and workforces to deliver projects wherever possible to ensure direct benefits to local communities.

Only Eligible Funding Recipients are able to participate in Phase 4 of the LRCI Program.

Eligible Funding Recipients will receive a letter of offer to participate in Phase 4 of the LRCI Program:

• Where eligibility for the Part A $500 million component is met, the letter of offer will include reference to this separate funding amount.
• Where eligibility for the Part B $250 million component is met, the letter of offer will include reference to this separate funding amount.

The Eligible Funding Recipients have been selected for this grant opportunity as the intention is to fund local communities directly. A list of funding recipients, and their funding allocations is available on the Department’s website here.

This grant assists eligible regional NSW businesses and councils by co-funding the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers at your site.

The NSW Government’s objectives of the grants are to:

• Overcome range anxiety and help to create a world-class EV charging network
• support destinations across regional NSW to be EV-ready
• support the growth of the NSW visitor economy and the ability to cater for an increasing number of EV drivers.

Round 2 of the EV destination charging grants will fund:

EV charger hardware:

• up to75% towards the cost of eligible 7 kW and 22 kW EV chargers from the approved EV charger hardware list

EV charger installation:

• up to 75% towards the cost of EV charger installation
• the maximum 75% funding available is capped at $3,000 per single port charger and $6,000 per dual port charger ($3,000 per charge port).

EV charger software subscription:

• up to 75% towards the cost of the first year of an eligible annual software subscription, per charge port, from the grant’s approved EV charger software list

To be eligible, you must:

• be located in an eligible regional NSW local government area (LGA)
• be an approved destination type
• have a live listing with ATDW (Australia Tourism Data Warehouse)
• have no more than four existing EV charge ports installed
• not be a site(s) approved for funding under round 1.

The Regional Australia Microgrid Pilots Program (the Program) aims to support pilot projects for microgrids in Regional Australia that:

• Have demonstrated Project viability through a Feasibility Study.
• Include the deployment of equipment and technology solutions that enable the coordinated use of distributed renewable energy technologies and the microgrid demonstration.
• Demonstrate improved resilience and reliability of microgrids in regional areas; and
• Demonstrate capability of resolving one or more of the remaining barriers to final investment and full deployment of microgrid solutions.

For the purposes of the Program the term microgrid is used to include the following technical configurations:

• Embedded Microgrid: An electricity supply arrangement that coordinates and optimises the use of connected, locationally proximate distributed energy resources (DER) to provide secure and reliable electricity within the microgrid and is able to provide value to the major grid. This could include energy market participation, provision of system flexibility, systems services and deferral of network investment.
• Standalone Power Systems (SAPS): An electricity supply arrangement that can demonstrate temporary or permanent operation when not physically connected to a major grid. SAPS encompasses supply to single and multiple customers. Where:
  • customers, currently connected to a major grid, can move to a SAPS, or
  • a SAPS is installed rather than a new grid connection.
• Remote Isolated Microgrid: An electricity supply arrangement that already operates as an isolated SAPS and will continue to do so. These systems are often in very remote locations and managed by State Government owned corporations.

The Safe and Secure Water Program (SSWP) is a $1 billion regional infrastructure co-funding program established in 2017 under the NSW Government’s Restart NSW Fund.

The SSWP will co-fund eligible water and sewerage projects that deliver economic growth in regional NSW through improvements to public health, water security, environmental outcomes and/or social benefits.

Road crashes are a major cost to Australians every year. Black Spot projects target those road locations where crashes are occurring. By funding measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at dangerous locations, the programme reduces the risk of crashes. Programmes of this sort are very effective, saving the community many times the cost of the relatively minor road improvements that are implemented

The Black Spot Programme makes an important contribution in reducing the national road toll under the National Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan.

The Australian Government has committed $500 million to the Black Spot Programme from 2014-15 to 2018-19, which includes an additional $200 million over two years from 2015-16 under the Infrastructure Growth Package to improve road safety across the nation.

The Government has announced changes to the programme’s eligibility criteria for 2015-16 and 2016-17 aimed at assisting local communities to compete for this additional funding over the next two years.

Under the new criteria, the minimum Benefit Cost Ratio for proposals has been reduced from 2:1 to 1:1. In addition, the minimum crash history of sites has been reduced from 3 to 2 casualty crashes over five years or 0.13 casualty crashes per kilometre per year over 5 years.

The criteria has also been amended to allow more funding for the proactive treatment of unsafe roads. Consultative Panels will able to allocate up to 40% of funding to sites on the basis of a road safety audit.

The Government has also guaranteed that at least 50 per cent of funding provided over the next two years will be dedicated to fixing roads in regional Australia.

Major Project Status is the Australian Government’s recognition of the national significance of a project – for economic growth, employment or for regional Australia.

If your project gets Major Project Status, you’ll get extra support from the Major Projects Facilitation Agency (MPFA). This includes help with coordination and facilitation of Commonwealth Government approvals. Your project may need a range of approvals such as environmental, biosecurity or foreign investment approvals.

Most projects have Major Project Status for 3 years.

If approved, you will get:

• A single entry point for Commonwealth Government approvals
• Project support and coordination
• Help with state and territory approvals

To be eligible, the project must have an estimated investment of more than $50 million and meet the following criteria:

1. The project is of strategic significance to Australia
2. The project requires Commonwealth Government approvals or involvement
3. The project has sufficient financial resources and is commercially viable

The Bridges Renewal Program is an Australian Government initiative to fund the upgrade and replacement of bridges to enhance access for local communities and facilitate higher productivity vehicle access.

Up until now, these programs invited applications separately through specified, time-limited funding rounds. The Australian Government will now consider projects on an ongoing basis with applications accepted all year round to provide increased flexibility and permit projects to be submitted when they will most benefit Australia’s bridges and heavy vehicle infrastructure.

The Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP) is an Australian Government initiative to fund infrastructure projects that improve the productivity and safety outcomes of heavy vehicle operations across Australia.
Up until now, these programs invited applications separately through specified, time-limited funding rounds. The Australian Government will now consider projects on an ongoing basis with applications accepted all year round to provide increased flexibility and permit projects to be submitted when they will most benefit Australia’s bridges and heavy vehicle infrastructure.

The REPAIR Program provides funds to assist councils in carrying out larger rehabilitation and development works on regional roads. The aim of the REPAIR Program is to minimise the long term maintenance costs of these roads in line with their function and usage.

Under the REPAIR Program, councils can apply for a 50 per cent contribution from the State Government for specific works. Works must be completed by 30 June in the financial year in which funds were provided.

Works must contribute to at least one of the following:

• Economic development
• Integrity of communities
• Road network efficiency
• Regional tourism
• Road safety

The REPAIR Program targets the following types of work in order of priority:

Rural areas

• Road pavement rehabilitation
• Sealing shoulders / widening
• Bridge repairs and replacement
• Provision of initial seals that contribute to minimising long-term maintenance costs

Urban areas

• Road pavement rehabilitation and travel lanes
• Bridge repairs and replacement
• Development of travel lanes

The BIERP provides a funding mechanism for repair or replacement of recreational boating infrastructure that is lost or damaged in natural events such as storms and floods and extends assistance to events such as acts of vandalism, theft or accidental damage.

Funding requests for emergency repairs can be received at any time by completing and submitting the relevant application form and supporting documentation.

Repair or replacement of publicly owned recreational boating facilities may be eligible for funding under the BIERP. These facilities include recreational jetties and wharves, boat ramps, pontoons, pump out facilities, slipways, storage facilities, parking areas and some supporting amenities, provided that the asset owner has appropriately insured and
maintained the asset. Funding for boating infrastructure that is owned by a registered club or voluntary organisation may also be considered, provided that the facility significantly benefits boaters and is publicly accessible.

The Traffic Route Lighting Subsidy Scheme (TRLSS) is a scheme administered by Roads and Maritime Services whereby councils may apply for a subsidy for providing a higher level of lighting than might normally be provided on certain major routes, with the aim of decreasing night time road crashes. The amount of the subsidy depends on the number of certain types of inventory installed as detailed by each council.

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) works in partnership with local councils to co-fund Safety Officer (RSO) positions and contribute funding to LGRSP projects targeting road safety issues at a local level.
The objectives of the LGRSP are:

• Raise the profile of road safety within local government areas (LGAs)
• Create a road safety culture within the local community
• Consult with internal council stakeholders, in particular through the Local Traffic Committee and relevant local businesses, other government agencies and community organisations, which is integral to the delivery of effective road safety initiatives.
• Deliver regional, state and national road safety initiatives within the local context
• Develop, implement and evaluate evidence-based projects aimed at influencing behaviour to improve road safety in local communities
• Promote, encourage and support the adoption the ‘Safe System’ approach to road safety and integrate this within the strategic planning framework for local councils i.e work with engineers to promote safe system initiatives and treatments
• Facilitate the involvement of local businesses, other government agencies and community groups/clubs in community road safety

Co-funding is available for approved councils to:

• Employ an RSO (see Section 6) whose tasks will include applying for road safety project funding (up to the amount approved by TfNSW)
• Support road safety projects (see Section 5) to address identified road safety issues in the LGA (up to the amount approved by TfNSW).

The Local Government Road Safety Program provides:

• Professional support for local councils to address local road safety issues
• Funding to support a dedicated behavioural road safety role to your LGA
• Project funding for behavioural and safer system road safety projects

Councils choosing not to employ an RSO can apply for road safety project funding of up to 50 per cent of the cost of the project. This could include a HR component for the cost of personnel to plan and deliver the project. 

The Australian Government and the governments of NSW, South Australia, Queensland and ACT have agreed to extend the 30 June 2024 delivery deadline to return the 450 GL of water to the environment under the Murray Darling Basin Plan to 31 December 2027.

The Australian Government’s Off-farm Efficiency Program is a $1.54 billion initiative to upgrade water infrastructure to reduce water losses and increase water available for the environment. The program has three streams including $1.33 billion for state-led projects (open) and $150 million for grants provided direct to applicants (now closed). A further $60 million is available for on-farm projects, however NSW Government will not progress applications under this stream.

Projects funded under the program will provide long-term benefits through improved water infrastructure and reduced water losses. Water users and the community will also benefit from increased water reliability and the creation of job opportunities.

The program aims to:

• improve and modernise water delivery systems and reduce water losses to increase the volume of available water for the environment, irrigation, urban and industrial networks, irrigators and communities
• drive employment and create infrastructure opportunities for local communities through funding arrangements for suitable projects
• deliver on the NSW Government’s commitment to the Murray Darling Basin Plan to contribute to the return of 450 GL to the environment by June 2024.

The program is open to individuals and entities in the irrigation, urban and manufacturing sectors across the Murray Darling Basin for projects that will achieve water efficiencies and return water to the environment.

The following types of projects are eligible to apply for funding under the program:

• Irrigation networks: installing new, or upgrading existing, irrigation infrastructure and technology in water delivery networks to supply water to irrigators, including permanently decommissioning inefficient or underused sections of a water delivery network
• Industrial or mining: constructing, replacing, upgrading, installing, improving, or refurbishing industrial water uses, including reducing leakage, for the purpose of using water for producing goods and services
• Urban: constructing, replacing, upgrading, installing, improving, or refurbishing urban water supply arrangements, including reducing leakage for the purpose of urban water supply
• Stock and domestic: improving stock and domestic water supply on one or more properties for the purpose of watering stock and supplying water for human use.

Feasibility funding is available to help identify early project opportunities to reduce water losses and increase water available for the environment in the Murray-Darling Basin. This can include investigations into improving infrastructure, confirming water losses and savings, informing the potential costs of construction, and supporting formal discussions with stakeholders.

Some on-property projects are eligible such as the installation or replacement of pipes, tanks and troughs for stock and domestic systems These are considered ‘off-farm’ activities as stock and domestic water entitlements are not tradeable and do not impact the water market. Individuals or organisations proposing on-property stock and domestic projects to improve water delivery and reduce water losses are encouraged to contact winsw.programs@dpie.nsw.gov.au for more information.

The Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program seeks to deliver transformative investment in regional, rural and remote Australia based on the principles of unifying regional places, growing their economies and serving their communities.

The program will focus on a partnership approach, bringing together governments and communities to deliver regional precincts that are tailored to local needs and have a shared vision in how that precinct connects to the region.

This grant opportunity is part of the regional Precincts and Partnerships Program.

The Precinct Delivery grant opportunity provides funding to deliver one or more elements of a precinct. This could include enabling public infrastructure (roads, pathways, underground infrastructure), open spaces between elements, or a particular building/s that is the catalyst for, or complements, other investment within a precinct.

For Stream Two, the project is considered to be one or more elements of a precinct. This grant opportunity will provide funding for the delivery of projects, rather than entire precincts. This contrasts with Stream One, where the project is considered to be the planning and development of the whole precinct.

Partnerships are essential to the program, which has a focus on bringing together all interested parties to collaboratively plan or deliver precinct proposals. These partnerships are intended to be conglomerates of relevant entities as well as other local stakeholders, including but not limited to:

• State and Territory government
• Local government
• Regional universities
• Not-for-profit entities
• First Nations groups
• Regional Development Australia committees
• Community organisations
• Private enterprise
• Australian government agencies that have policy/program interests or responsibilities.

The Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program seeks to deliver transformative investment in regional, rural and remote Australia based on the principles of unifying regional places, growing their economies and serving their communities.

The program will focus on a partnership approach, bringing together governments and communities to deliver regional precincts that are tailored to local needs and have a shared vision in how that precinct connects to the region.

This grant opportunity is part of the regional Precincts and Partnerships Program.

The Precinct Development and Planning grant opportunity provides opportunities to develop a precinct idea through to investment-ready stage. The rationale for Stream One is to recognise that financial constraints can inhibit great concepts being explored further and developed into realistic, well-designed and planned projects.

For Stream One, the project is considered to be a plan for the entire precinct, even if you are only considering future investment in one element of the precinct. This contrasts with Stream Two, where the project is one or more elements of a precinct.

The objective of the grant opportunity is to activate partnerships to jointly deliver precinct plans.

The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are to:

• establish partnerships comprised of relevant government entities, community organisations and businesses that have a shared vision for a regional precinct
• deliver precinct plans that are tailored to their local contexts and based on community feedback and engagement
• support precinct plans to become investment ready.

Partnerships are essential to the program, which has a focus on bringing together all interested parties to collaboratively plan or deliver precinct proposals. These partnerships are intended to be conglomerates of relevant entities as well as other local stakeholders, including but not limited to:

• State and Territory government
• Local government
• Regional universities
• Not-for-profit entities
• First Nations groups
• Regional Development Australia committees
• Community organisations
• Private enterprise
• Australian government agencies that have policy/program interests or responsibilities.

When regional town and village supplies are threatened by circumstances that could not be reasonably planned for, such as an extreme dry period or extreme water quality event, the NSW Government can help local water utilities to ensure critical human water needs are met. The Water Utilities branch within NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment can provide technical assistance and advice to local water utilities, and support when applying for financial assistance from the government.

The government can help local water utilities by providing technical and/or financial assistance to assist in managing depleted or at risk supplies, including help to implement emergency capital works or to cart water to towns, depending on the particular situation.

Where the source of supply is at very high or imminent risk of failure or has failed as the result of an extreme event, undertaking emergency capital works may be the recommended course of action. Works can include constructing emergency bore supplies, creating a temporary or permanent connection to another water source or water supply scheme, temporary emergency capital works or developing new emergency water sources.