Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: Up to $60,000
- Application opened: 24 July 2026
- Application closes: 21 August 2026, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The objectives of the 2026 Greener Neighbourhoods grant round is to support councils in one or more of the following:
Prepare or update strategic plans that include tree canopy and/or heat mitigation targets and actions.
- Improve access to, and capability in, analysing and applying tree canopy and urban heat data.
Develop locally appropriate tree canopy targets informed by climate risk, land use and community context.
- Develop, update or maintain a tree asset database or tree asset management plan aligned with council asset management systems.
Deliver education and engagement programs that build understanding of the benefits of trees and urban greening for urban cooling and liveability.
This program is administered by Planning, Land Use, Housing and Strategy.
Eligibility
Who can apply
The following councils in the Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra-Shoalhaven regions are eligible to apply:
- Central Coast Council
- Cessnock City Council
- Kiama Municipal Council
- Lake Macquarie City Council
- Maitland City Council
- City of Newcastle
- Port Stephens Council
- Shellharbour City Council
- Shoalhaven City Council
- City of Wollongong
The following councils in Greater Sydney are eligible to apply:
- Bayside Council
- Blacktown City Council
- Blue Mountains City Council
- Burwood Council
- Camden Council
- Campbelltown City Council
- City of Canada Bay
- Canterbury-Bankstown Council
- Cumberland City Council
- Fairfield City Council
- Georges River Council
- Hawkesbury City Council
- The Hills Shire Council
- Hornsby Shire Council
- Hunter’s Hill Council
- Inner West Council
- Ku-ring-gai Council
- Lane Cove Council
- Liverpool City Council
- Mosman Municipal Council
- North Sydney Council
- Northern Beaches Council
- City of Parramatta Council
- Penrith City Council
- Randwick City Council
- City of Ryde Council
- Strathfield Council
- Sutherland Shire Council
- City of Sydney
- Waverley Council
- Willoughby City Council
- Wollondilly Shire Council
- Woollahra Municipal Council
Types of projects funded under this grant
An application is eligible if the following are met:
- The grant funding amount sought is up to $60,000 (excl. GST) per council.
- The project meets one or more of the program objectives.
- Funding is sought for eligible project costs.
- Projects must be completed within 24 months of executing the funding deed or by 30 November 2028.
- Adequate insurances including public liability insurance cover of $20 million.
- The application is approved by the General Manager or equivalent senior council delegate.
All questions must be completed in the application.
Councils can submit one application only.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Applicants must:
- answer all questions in the application portal
- provide links or attach copies of plans/reports referred to in your application, where appropriate. Only attach relevant pages or sections, not reports in their entirety.
- provide General Manager (or equivalent) written endorsement at the time of application or within one week of applications closing.
- applications must also satisfy the grant criteria and applicants must accept the conditions outlined in the guidelines.
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Start the application
The application process is as follows:
- Visit the website at https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/urban-greening/greener-neighbourhoods. Read the information about the grant program to determine if you are eligible.
- Read the grant guidelines and familiarise yourself with the grant program requirements.
- Complete and submit the application through SmartyGrants.
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.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
The Department will assess applications as follows:
- Applications will be assessed by the Green and Sustainable Cities team to determine their eligibility.
- Eligible applications will be assessed by an assessment panel against the criteria in the ‘Assessment criteria’ section of the guidelines. The panel will recommend projects for funding to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces.
- The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces will make final decisions regarding funding allocations.
Support and contact
gocgrants@planning.nsw.gov.au