Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package

Community Assets Program

An aerial photo over a coastal town next to a river and two sandy white beaches

$70 million for the repair, restoration or betterment of community infrastructure that was damaged by the February and June 2022 floods.

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Key information

  • Status: Closed
  • Grant amount: From $100,000 to $7,500,000
  • Application opened: 20 January 2023
  • Application closed: 27 March 2023, 2:00 pm

Program objective

The Community Assets Program (CAP), under the 2022 Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Program, is co-funded by the Australian and NSW Governments and is a firm commitment to ensuring disaster impacted communities have what they need to thrive.

Under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), regional communities have existing support to repair essential public assets like roads. However, these measures do not necessarily extend to repairing damaged community infrastructure such as parks, playgrounds, walkways and places of cultural heritage, all of which contribute to a community’s sense of wellbeing. 

The $70 million CAP will support the social recovery of eligible storm and flood affected local government areas (LGAs) by providing funding for the repair, restoration and betterment of community infrastructure.

This program is funded and administered by Department of Regional NSW.

Eligibility

Who can apply

Councils that own or manage community infrastructure within an eligible local government area can apply. 

The program targets the 19 most impacted disaster declared local government areas in NSW that experienced significant damage to local community infrastructure during the severe weather and flood events in February and June 2022 (Australian Government Reference Number AGRN 1012 and/or AGRN 1025). 

Other local government areas included in the AGRN 1012 and AGRN 1025 disaster declaration, but not listed for targeted funding, can still apply if they can substantiate the impact of the disaster on the community asset, demonstrate strong community need and alignment to program objectives.

Who can’t apply

Ineligible applicants include:

  • Australian or NSW government agencies*
  • State Owned Corporations*
  • Volunteer organisations
  • Joint organisations of councils
  • Incorporated not-for-profit organisation, entity or trust
  • Private, for-profit businesses.

*except for co-managed assets with an eligible where the co-manager is an eligible applicant council.

Types of projects funded under this grant

The repair, restoration or betterment of directly impacted local community infrastructure that does not provide a function to an essential public asset including:

  • recreational and services buildings including libraries, youth and senior citizen facilities and tourism
  • parks and playgrounds including equipment, furniture, fencing, shades, facilities and amenities
  • holiday and caravan park facilities, boardwalks, footpaths, walking trails, community club structures including surf lifesaving
  • amenities and community/service buildings that complement and support multiple social and recreation facilities
  • cultural heritage and identity of place assets
  • wharves, jetties and boat ramps
  • pedestrian bridges, car parks, electric vehicle charging stations, retaining walls, landscaping, river/creek banks and signage in public spaces.

Types of projects not funded under this program

Ineligible projects under CAP include:

  • assets that meet the definition of an essential public asset under the DRFA 2018 including roads, tunnels and utility bridges
  • assets that are associated with the function of an essential public asset under the DRFA 2018 including road furniture and retaining walls
  • projects that have been funded through other government grant(s)
  • repair projects or elements of repair projects where an applicant has claimed and received insurance
  • assets that were not directly damaged as a result of the 2022 storm and floods
  • LGAs not declared in AGRN 1012 and ARGN 1025
  • projects that do not relate to the repair, rebuilding or betterment of community infrastructure
  • local council asset projects for the primary purpose of waste clean-up and/or make-safe works
  • projects that would fund the day-to-day operations and/or business as usual activities of the organisation
  • projects that require ongoing funding from the NSW Government
  • erosion and sedimentation management projects including coastal and riverbank areas
  • projects that are not aligned to the objective of the CAP.

Most recent recipients

What was approved

Approved for Camden Council
$2,496,331

Repair and betterment of path access on Little Sandy Bridge and enhance embankments to resist future flood events.

$2,496,331 was approved by

Minister for Regional NSW

Date approved

August 2023

Location of the recipient

Camden

About the grant

Applications approved

62

Applications received

77

Community Assets Program

Agency funding this grant

Department of Regional NSW

Program term

Project completion by 30 May 2025

What was approved

Approved for Canterbury Bankstown Council
$200,902

Replacement gabion wall supporting the western abutment of the Turrella Reserve pedestrian bridge and repair and stabilisation of an existing section of the gabion wall.

$200,902 was approved by

Minister for Regional NSW

Date approved

August 2023

Location of the recipient

Canterbury-Bankstown

About the grant

Applications approved

62

Applications received

77

Community Assets Program

Agency funding this grant

Department of Regional NSW

Program term

Project completion by 30 May 2025

What was approved

Approved for Canterbury Bankstown Council
$301,573

Supply and installation of a new pedestrian bridge near DeWitt Street and new handrails for the pedestrian bridge near Adept Lane.

$301,573 was approved by

Minister for Regional NSW

Date approved

August 2023

Location of the recipient

Canterbury-Bankstown

About the grant

Applications approved

62

Applications received

77

Community Assets Program

Agency funding this grant

Department of Regional NSW

Program term

Project completion by 30 May 2025

What was approved

Approved for Georges River Council
$159,045

Rebuild of 65m of retaining wall supporting a large portion of Poulton Park, utilising more robust construction and improved stormwater drainage infrastructure.

$159,045 was approved by

Minister for Regional NSW

Date approved

August 2023

Location of the recipient

Georges River

About the grant

Applications approved

62

Applications received

77

Community Assets Program

Agency funding this grant

Department of Regional NSW

Program term

Project completion by 30 May 2025

What was approved

Approved for Hawkesbury City Council
$1,900,000

Repair and betterment works at multiple community recreation precincts to improve accessibility, function and future flood mitigation. Project includes works at Bensons Lane Reserve, The Breakaway, Brinsley Reserve, Navua Reserve and Argyle Bailey Memorial Reserve.

$1,900,000 was approved by

Minister for Regional NSW

Date approved

August 2023

Location of the recipient

Hawkesbury

About the grant

Applications approved

62

Applications received

77

Community Assets Program

Agency funding this grant

Department of Regional NSW

Program term

Project completion by 30 May 2025

All recipients (62)

What your application needs to include

For further details about the Community Assets Program including key dates, available funding, and application and assessment processes, refer to the program guidelines (PDF 2.85MB).

 

1

All applications need to include:

  • a clear project scope
  • evidence of direct damage
  • a project plan
  • a project budget based on quotes or detailed estimates, reasonable assumptions or previous experience with similar projects
  • landowner consent
  • evidence of current $20 million Public Liability Insurance in the name of the Applicant
  • evidence of strong community support for the project.
2
  • Funding is available for eligible, directly damaged community infrastructure in all disaster declared LGAs under AGRN 1012 and/or AGRN 1025
  • Councils that own and/or manage community infrastructure are eligible to apply
  • Funding notional allocations are proposed per LGA based on the assessed impact to community infrastructure in that LGA
  • Funding will be targeted to the 19 most impacted LGAs
  • Only assets that have been directly damaged from 2022 severe weather and flood events (AGRN 1012 and/or AGRN 1025) are eligible
  • Project scope can include repair, restoration, or betterment activities
  • If the value of the notional allocation per funding band is exceeded, or not met, then the funding may be redistributed to other disaster declared LGAs where there is demonstrated need. This will be determined by the Assessment Panel and as per Assessment Criteria.

For further details about eligibility, including eligible applicants, assets, projects and costs, refer to the program guidelines (PDF 2.85MB).

3

Applicants must be able to demonstrate:

  • The ability of the community asset(s) to contribute to community wellbeing and prosperity
  • That community needs are being met
  • The ability of the project to contribute to social recovery and building social cohesion
  • Alignment to community strategic and regional plans.
  • That the project will deliver asset betterment and resilience to future disasters and improved accessibility and inclusion to community infrastructure
  • The ability of the project to commence delivery within 12 months of funding approval.

Please refer to the program guidelines (PDF 2.85MB) for further details.

4

After the application is submitted

Applications will be reviewed against Assessment Criteria outlined in the Program Guidelines.

An Assessment Panel, including independent members and with advice from subject matter experts, will assess each application.

The Department of Regional NSW will be the final approver of both successful and unsuccessful applications recommended by the Assessment Panel.

Projects will be managed through a Funding Deed which will include requirements for successful applicants to participate in regular reporting and program evaluation.

The Department will notify all applicants the outcome of their application.

Please refer to the program guidelines (PDF 2.85MB) for further details.

Support and contact

For more information please contact the Department of Regional NSW.

Phone: 1300 679 673 from 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday.

Email: floods.recovery@regional.nsw.gov.au

Program evaluation

The evaluation report was completed for two programs, including the Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Program 2021 and Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Program (Community Assets Program) 2022.

Read the Process Evaluation Report (PDF 807.64KB).

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