Boating Infrastructure Emergency Repair Pool

The Boating Infrastructure Emergency Repair Pool Grants Program is a demand-driven, 'first-in, first-served' grants program that is defined in the Grant Administration Guide as applications that satisfy stated eligibility criteria are approved, up to the limit of available funding.

Transport will only consider grant applications that meet each of the following eligibility criteria:

• The project must comply with the BIERP guidelines and be consistent with the types of projects that can be funded under the program as outlined in Section Types of projects eligible for grant funding.
• The project must be located on land and waters that the applicant owns or has tenure over. Alternatively, the applicant must provide clear evidence of landowner’s support, approval or consent to carry out the proposed works at the site, such as a letter of support or formal approval for the project from landowner.  
• Applicants must have and retain control and/or ownership of the infrastructure to be funded by the grant once it has been completed, and must therefore be responsible for the facility’s ongoing management and maintenance.  
• Evidence must be provided of damage caused by a natural disaster or severe weather event such as a flood or bushfire, including photos before and after the event.
• Evidence must be provided of previous maintenance of the asset, such as photos, maintenance invoices, maintenance plan and audit reports.
• The request for funding must be between minimum $5,000 up to or equal to $300,000
• The estimated cost and request for funding must be supported by reasonable quotes for works or past invoices for similar works, and be relevant to the project scope and consistent with the types of work in the application form. Transport may request updated quotes as required.
• A detailed plan of works must be provided including how the applicant intends to manage risks and complete the works within the required timeframes as well as any technical drawings and specifications.
• Evidence must be provided of how betterment will be more beneficial than a repair if funding for betterment has been requested, such as the inclusion of quotes or invoices for repairs and for proposed betterment works, as well as estimates for repairs post-betterment.
• The asset must be available for use by the general boating public and must provide direct benefits to recreational boaters and the general boating public.
• A detailed plan of works includes an outline and assessment of risks, a schedule of works with details of milestones and work activities and associated costs by line item, construction methodology, drawings and layouts.

Examples which do not constitute a detailed plan of works includes but is not limited to the submission of only a list of activities or milestones, a submission of a quote that does not contain further details such as timeframes, designs or work plans, or a hand-drawn sketch.

Examples of assets not considered to be for use by the general boating public include, but is not limited to, boardwalks, the deck areas that cater for non-boating activities and structures that do not provide practical and safe public vessel access for users and passengers. Boating assets that primarily benefit a specific boating group in exchange for a fee, including membership fees, may not be considered assets that provide public boating needs or benefit.

Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.