Safe Shooting Grant Program (SSGP) 2024/25

• NSW incorporated, community based not-for-profit shooting organisations (clubs and associations) that are approved by the NSW Firearms Registry.
• Shooting ranges in NSW approved and administered by the NSW Firearms Registry.
• NSW State Sporting Organisations relevant to the sport of shooting including NSW Amateur Pistol Association, NSW Clay Target Association and NSW Rifle Association.

The Program can be used for:

• New or upgraded firearms capital equipment which includes items not permanently attached to buildings or grounds and can be purchased straight off the shelf, and/or;
• Construction or implementation of new or upgraded infrastructure. These are generally more complex projects which require the coordination, execution, and planning of construction phases. Staged components of a larger facility development are eligible, providing the stage being applied for meets the program eligibility criteria.

Grant funding is available to cover only the capital cost of a project and any directly related project administration costs up to 10% of total costs. The project must be on land within NSW. Applicants should submit a landowner consent form for the project on the land on which the facility is to be developed or redeveloped. For projects located on public land, a landowner consent form or signed letter of consent from the appropriate authorised delegate must be provided. Additional information also sought includes evidence of applicant’s tenure and lease arrangements.

The project should be started by 31 May 2025 and the project must be completed by 31 May 2026.

The primary objectives of the Program are to:

• Improve the quality and safety of existing shooting facilities across New South Wales
• Remove barriers to participation in sport and recreation for everyone but particularly for women and girls, people with disability, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and LGBTQIA+ people
• Increase utilisation of existing shooting facilities

Ineligible applicants are any organisation types not listed in the ‘eligible applicants’ section, and include (but are not limited to):

• Incorporated, community-based, not-for-profit sporting organisations (clubs and associations whose primary purpose is to organise sporting activities/deliver sport programs) outside of the sport of shooting.
• Individuals.
• Schools, TAFEs, and Universities.
• Parents and Citizens (P&Cs) Associations.
• Progress Associations.
• NSW Institute of Sport, Australian Sports Commission (incorporating the Australian Institute of Sport) and NSW Regional Academies of Sport.
• NSW based professional sporting organisations competing in national or state competitions.
• NSW Department of Education operated specialist sports high schools.
• NSW Office of Sport recognised NSW State Sporting Organisations (including National Sporting Organisations where the state body is part of a unitary governance model) outside of the sport of shooting.
• Australian Universities with NSW campuses.
• NSW Government agencies.
• Local government authorities in New South Wales.
• Regional Joint Organisations of councils, the Lord Howe Island Board and the Unincorporated Far West groups.
• Organisations providing sport and recreation programs that benefit the community, such as PCYCs, YMCA and YWCA.
• Private enterprises (companies established under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), incorporated associations established under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW) or incorporated limited partnerships established under the Partnership Act 1892 (NSW).

An eligible organisation will be deemed not eligible for funding under this program if they are an organisation named: (i) by the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse on its list of institutions that have not joined or signified their intent not to join the Scheme; or (ii) in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that has not yet joined the National Redress Scheme.

• Purchase of firearms or ammunition.
• Purchase of protective clothing.
• Projects that do not meet relevant Australian standards.
• Projects on private land unless there is clear public benefit to the community’s interest in sport and active recreation and have documented consent from the landowner.
• Costs associated with preparing and submitting the application for funding under this program.
• Costs associated with feasibility, design, or development stages including feasibility studies, business cases and masterplans.
• Facilities where little or no public access is available.
• For the purchase or lease of land/facility.
• Related to administrative or operational expenditure which are normally the responsibility of businesses, state agencies or local councils.
• Retrospective funding, where projects have commenced construction or are completed prior to the execution of a funding agreement, or which could proceed without any NSW Government financial assistance.
• Projects that have already been funded by the NSW Government unless significant new and additional project scope is identified.
• General maintenance or replacement costs through normal wear and tear (e.g. painting, running costs and minor repairs to existing facilities).
• For the building or upgrade of licensed areas and gaming areas.
• Repair of facilities where the damage can be covered by insurance.
• Ancillary infrastructure e.g. car parks or accommodation.
• Project administration costs and costs for the ongoing operation of the facility.

• Upgrade of firearms capital equipment and/or facilities to comply with Workplace Health & Safety legislation or as directed by the NSW Firearms Registry.
• Construction or implementation of new or upgraded security infrastructure that improves safety for users and the wider community.
• New and upgraded provision of universally designed amenities that are beyond compliant with regard to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and provide dignified inclusion in sport participation, for example disability access, unisex toilets or change rooms designed to be female-friendly, including parent and child change spaces.
• Environmentally and operationally sustainable initiatives that support water, energy and financial savings including new or upgrades to lighting including technology-controlled and LED lighting and installation of solar panels and smart metering technology.
• Projects that contribute to the financial sustainability of eligible shooting associations or clubs.
• Erection of higher earth mounds or safety baffles to combat urban encroachment.
• Buying or upgrading non-fixed equipment (e.g., electronic targetry, movable baffles and moveable bullet traps).
• Projects that improve the storage, security and safety capability of shooting clubs.
• Note that Office of Sport will not cover the cost of project overruns. Costs exceeding the budget must be covered by the grant recipient. Contingency may be requested via the application but is not mandatory.
• Priority may be given to facilities identified as:
  • Being in poor or unserviceable condition.
  • Addressing a demonstrated need for the community.
  • High urgency to address facility building compliance requirements e.g. safety, building standards, including the DDA.