Regional Events and Partnerships

Eligible applicants are:

• a company incorporated in Australia
• an incorporated association or co-operative
• legally binding partnerships or trusts
• an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation incorporated under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006
• incorporated Aboriginal community organisations (i.e. initiated by, controlled and operated by Aboriginal people and/or governed by a board or committee of Aboriginal people)
• Local Aboriginal Land Councils
• incorporated not-for-profit organisations
• local councils, Section 355 committees of a local council or joint organisation of councils
• sporting bodies (State or National associations)
• Lord Howe Island Board
• Unincorporated Far West groups

Eligible applicants must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• provide appropriate evidence of not-for-profit and incorporation status
• be financially viable and able to demonstrate they are financially viable by providing the most recent 3 years of financial statements
• hold or commit to obtaining public liability insurance of not less than $20 million per occurrence prior to executing a funding deed with the department
• not be insolvent, bankrupt or subject to ongoing legal proceedings
• declare in the application form that the applicant is not aware of any issues which could cause reputational or other risks to the NSW Government

If an applicant’s circumstances in relation to the above eligibility criteria change, the applicant should provide updated information by contacting the department via email at regionaldevelopmenttrust@dpird.nsw.gov.au. 

Eligible Locations:

• Albury City
• Armidale Regional
• Ballina Shire
• Balranald Shire
• Bathurst Regional
• Bega Valley Shire
• Bellingen Shire
• Berrigan Shire
• Bland Shire
• Blayney Shire
• Bogan Shire
• Bourke Shire
• Brewarrina Shire
• Broken Hill City
• Byron Shire
• Cabonne
• Carrathool Shire
• Central Coast
• Central Darling Shire
• Cessnock City
• Clarence Valley
• Cobar Shire
• Coffs Harbour City
• Coolamon Shire
• Coonamble Shire
• Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional
• Cowra Shire
• Dubbo Regional
• Dungog Shire
• Edward River
• Eurobodalla Shire
• Unincorporated Far West NSW
• Federation
• Forbes Shire
• Gilgandra Shire
• Glen Innes Severn
• Goulburn Mulwaree
• Greater Hume Shire
• Griffith City
• Gunnedah Shire
• Gwydir Shire
• Hay Shire
• Hilltops
• Inverell Shire
• Junee Shire
• Kempsey Shire
• Kiama Municipality
• Kyogle
• Lachlan Shire
• Lake Macquarie City
• Leeton Shire
• Lismore City
• Lithgow City
• Liverpool Plains Shire
• Lockhart Shire
• Lord Howe Island
• Maitland City
• Mid-Coast
• Mid-Western Regional
• Moree Plains Shire
• Murray River
• Murrumbidgee
• Muswellbrook Shire
• Nambucca Valley
• Narrabri Shire
• Narrandera Shire
• Narromine Shire
• Newcastle City
• Oberon
• Orange City
• Parkes Shire
• Port Macquarie-Hastings
• Port Stephens
• Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional
• Richmond Valley
• Shellharbour City
• Shoalhaven City
• Singleton
• Snowy Monaro Regional
• Snowy Valleys
• Tamworth Regional
• Temora Shire
• Tenterfield Shire
• Tweed Shire
• Upper Hunter Shire
• Upper Lachlan Shire
• Uralla Shire
• Wagga Wagga City
• Walcha
• Walgett Shire
• Warren Shire
• Warrumbungle Shire
• Weddin Shire
• Wentworth Shire
• Wingecarribee Shire
• Wollongong City
• Yass Valley

Eligible projects that can be supported by Regional Events and Partnerships Stream grant will facilitate significant events in regional NSW that include ongoing local benefits to achieve the program objective and can include projects that:

• attract or develop new events in regional NSW that deliver ongoing benefits such as economic growth and improved social outcomes
• expand existing events through new and/or upgraded permanent infrastructure or activation of under-used assets
• increase the frequency of events, including addressing barriers to regular or reliable use of existing assets or temporary facilities.

Projects that require partnerships with levels of government and proponents will also be considered.

The expected outcomes of the Regional Events and Partnerships Stream are:

Short-term outcomes:

Boost for local businesses

Upgrades to permanent infrastructure or other types of enduring local benefits such as local participation or promotion of local industry, environment and/or culture.

Increased access to diversion activities, reduction in youth crime

Medium-term outcomes:

Increased visitation and broader tourism uplift

Health and well-being improvements, and increased opportunities particularly for young people and families to participate in events within the local area

Long-term outcomes:

Attract and retain the residents and workers needed to ensure the economic success and ongoing sustainability of regional communities

Communities have the amenities and social cohesion needed to build and maintain resilience from economic or environmental shocks

The following types of project costs are eligible for funding:

• are within the minimum and maximum funding amount for a grant under the program
• engagement of temporary staff, programs or service providers related to facilitating an event or achieving ongoing benefits to local and regional communities as part of the project
• construction costs for infrastructure development, expansion or upgrades that relate to the program objective and would not be considered business-as-usual activities, responsibilities or operations
• includes less than 20% of the total grant for contingency
• includes less than 10% of the total grant for project management and administration

Applicants should contact the department on regionaldevelopmenttrust@dpird.nsw.gov.au with any questions regarding the eligibility of certain costs prior to submitting an application. 

Ineligible applicants include:

• individuals
• sole traders
• unincorporated associations
• Australian or NSW Government agencies, state owned corporations, or statutory authorities

The following are examples of project costs that are ineligible for funding:

• financing costs, including interest and debt financing, costs such as rent and utilities unless specifically related to the project 
• insurance costs (applicants must hold and maintain adequate insurance coverage for any liability arising from their participation in funded activities) 
• depreciation of plant and equipment beyond the life of the project 
• purchase of land or buildings  
• purchase of alcohol
• staff training costs not directly related to the project 
• costs that are not essential to the success of the project
• cost of projects or activities already funded or costs related to business-as-usual activities, responsibilities or operations of the entity, state or local government
• any costs for works or improvements that are not directly related to delivering the project 
• retrospective funding to cover any project component that is already purchased and/or complete prior to the Department receiving a signed Letter of Offer and Confidentiality Agreement, however the NSW Government makes no binding financial commitment until both parties sign a funding deed. 

A project is not eligible for funding if:  

• the application does not meet the compliance, eligibility and project feasibility criteria or does not include information required to assess these criteria
• the project does not provide clear ongoing benefits to local and regional communities and contribute to the objectives of the program stream and Active Regional Communities Package
• the applicant has received funding from the NSW, Australian Government or another source for any part of the project scope that duplicates deliverables to be funded by this program
• it has more than 50% of the funding request allocated to ineligible project costs
• it is for planning purposes only; or costs are exclusively for marketing, branding, advertising or product promotion including tourism marketing; or if it would be considered business-as-usual activities and operations
• it requires ongoing funding from the NSW Government. A plan for the closure, or continuation of the activities with alternative funding, at the end of the grant period once the grant is expended will be required as evidence.
• it is solely for the maintenance of any infrastructure i.e. painting or beautification repairs without upgrading the functionality or amenity of the infrastructure.

The following are examples of projects which may be funded under the program and are listed as guidance only:

• Attract and host a major event, including operations (e.g. safety, communications and community engagement) and include activities that contribute to the local community (e.g. providing sport clinics) for the duration of the event.
• Infrastructure to enable music, cultural, industry or sporting events to be held in a regional locality (e.g. upgrades/ temporary expansion of facilities, road upgrades, etc).
• Activate under-used infrastructure, such as upgrading showground facilities (e.g. power, lighting, surface improvements) to use for recurring night market, industry promotion or festivals).

Eligible applicants must make a financial contribution towards the project of at least 50% of the total project cost. Exemptions may be available in limited circumstances.

Financial contributions from other grants received (secured) from the Australian Government can be included in the co-contribution. However, grants from the NSW Government cannot be included in the minimum co-contribution amount required.