Search Grants & Funding

The Open Streets Program is a $4.5 million grant program that will provide successful councils with funding of up to $150,000 to temporarily close streets to cars and open them on a day, or series of days, for placemaking events and activations. The program purpose is to encourage collaboration between government, business and community to improve the vibrancy of local streets and centres.

The Open Streets Program aims to meet these objectives:

• Temporarily close streets to vehicles and open them for people, with projects over a day, or series of days, and provide safe spaces for community events and activities.
• Bring vibrancy to our streets by creating a sense of excitement and discovery with creative events and activations that are inviting and inclusive to all the community.
• Support job creation in local businesses and the cultural sector.
• Support the development of longer-term place management outcomes, through projects that encourage private-public partnerships.

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. 

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 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 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