Port Kembla Community Investment Fund - Round 6 Frequently Asked Questions

Projects must be delivered on property located within Port Kembla and surrounding areas. Refer to the program guidelines for detailed boundary markers and a map of eligible locations.

Yes, if the project and benefits are being delivered entirely in the eligible location.

Yes. Applicants can submit a joint application for a single project, but an eligible lead applicant will need to be nominated. If the application is successful, the lead applicant will enter into the funding deed and be ultimately responsible for the project.

As a joint applicant, the grant payments will be made to the lead applicant. Successful applicants will need to provide evidence of eligible expenditure to claim milestone payments. In a joint application, the application should clearly detail the entity that will incur eligible expenditure. Eligible expenditure may be incurred by any of the parties to the application.

NSW State Government agencies are not eligible to apply for funding as a lead applicant; however, they can apply as a joint applicant with an eligible entity as the lead applicant. 

Community groups are incorporated associations where they are a not-for profit-organisation (including volunteer-based) registered under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009, typically whose work supports families and or communities in the area.

Yes. Individual applicants can submit multiple applications for the PKCIF Round 6.

Each application must be for a single project in the program’s eligible location.

However, applicants are encouraged to prioritise potential projects to maximise the competitiveness and quality of submitted materials, as not all applications will be successful.

No. Businesses that primarily serve only the local population will generally not be eligible for assistance under this program. This includes businesses whose primary operation is in retail, localised trades, professional services, hospitality, and accommodation providers.

Refer to Eligible Applicants/Exclusions section in the guidelines for further details.

Not-for-profit organisations and Local Aboriginal Land Councils, are not required to provide a co-contribution. However, applicants or project partners are strongly encouraged to provide financial and/or in-kind co-contributions to demonstrate collaboration and provide more certainty in the successful delivery of the project.

Local Councils, private businesses, and any other eligible organisation must provide matching funding (at least 50% of the project total) for their projects. Co-contributions in these instances must be in cash and not in-kind.

Co-contributions may include confirmed funding from the Australian Government. Funding received from the NSW Government cannot be included as part of the co-contribution requirement. 

Projects must commence within 6 months of execution of a funding deed and be completed within 2 years.

Applicants should commence the contracting process within one month of receipt of letter of offer by returning their signed Confidentiality Agreement to the department, to ensure they meet the program timeframes.

Funding for an existing multi-stage project can be considered providing the project stage is clear in scope and discrete from other stages, and the project stage can be delivered within the program timeframes.

Eligible project costs will only be those incurred after a grant has been awarded and a funding deed has been executed. 

The purchase of non-fixed equipment can only be included as part of an application where the equipment relates specifically to the overall delivery of the project, are incidental costs to the project budget, and where the department deems it essential to the project’s successful outcomes.

Examples may include:

• An applicant proposing to construct a public amenity, such as an accessible outdoor function area, can include the purchase of non-fixed equipment, or machinery as part of their application where the equipment is required to ensure the outcomes of the project can be achieved
• An applicant proposing to deliver an outdoor event can include the purchase of first aid equipment that is required to ensure the project can be delivered as per the project risk management plan.
• An applicant proposing an upgrade to audio-visual equipment for training and event purposes can include the purchase of a specialised laptop that is required to operate the equipment.

Costs relating to the purchase of vehicles, buses, boats, trailers, motorhomes, or other modes of transportation are ineligible.

Project management and administration costs can include (but are not limited to) employment of project managers, coordinators, and consultants either directly or through outsourcing to an external organisation to deliver the project (this includes design and planning consultancies where relevant).

Internal project management fees may be considered where additional internal resources are required to deliver the project and are directly associated with delivering project activities. These costs must be identified as a project cost at application and should be supported by a market value comparison quote. Wages not specifically related to the delivery of the project, or beyond the duration of the project, are not an eligible project cost.

Project administration costs can include materials, equipment or other expenses specifically related to the delivery of the project, that are not considered business-as-usual. 

Contingency costs can include (but are not limited to) cost escalation or overruns for project deliverables such as project management and consultancy fees, equipment, unforeseen delays, damage and rework, supply chain disruption, minor required scope changes, inclement weather.

No, Public Liability Insurance is not an eligible cost and must be either held or taken out by the applicant prior to entering the funding deed. 

The program guidelines require applications to demonstrate community benefit and need for projects. This can be evidenced through, for example, community feedback, surveys, letters of support, feasibility studies, community plans, reports, surveys, other data. Applicants are encouraged to include supporting documents to strengthen their application against the community benefit and strategic alignment merit criteria.

The department can assist applicants to develop strong applications. Please contact contact.regionalprograms@dpird.nsw.gov.au for assistance.

Please check with the department prior to submitting if you are unclear about any part of the application.