Surf Club Facility Program 23/24 - Category 1

Eligible applicants are:

• Surf Life Saving Clubs in NSW; or
• Surf Life Saving NSW Branches. Branches are able to apply for surf club related works e.g., storage sheds for emergency equipment but they will only be considered after all eligible applications from Surf Life Saving Clubs in the round receive funding.

Applicants must have Public Liability Insurance with a minimum $20 million cover however, in exceptional circumstances, the Office of Sport may, in its sole discretion, consider a lower amount of cover based on the nature and risks of the particular project. The determination will be made on the level of risk posed by a proposed project. If an applicant proposes Public Liability Insurance cover lower than $20 million then they must outline the exceptional circumstances warranting that lower amount of insurance cover.

Applications must be limited to constructing new or enhancing existing surf clubs that demonstrate inclusive and accessible design. Priority will be given to surf club facilities identified as:

• Being in poor or unserviceable condition
• Addressing a demonstrated need for the community
• High urgency to address facility building compliance requirements.

Examples of eligible project types and project components for all categories include:

• New and upgraded provision of universally designed* change rooms and/or shower, toilets and parent and child change areas.
• Environmental and operational sustainable initiatives that support water, energy and financial sustainability. For example, solar panels and/or batteries, rainwater tanks for reuse in toilets or LED lighting.
• Digital technology uplift projects, including installation of WIFI, keyless entry, increased automation and other innovative smart technologies.
• Projects that improve the storage, security and safety capability of surf clubs for example extension or construction of board storage room, bushfire protection measures on the facility, new roller or access doors.
• Fixed and non-fixed items that are part of a larger capital improvement project scope, g. portable storage racks for rescue boards or beach access mats for wheelchairs. The cost of non-fixed items cannot exceed 25% of the grant amount requested.
• Projects that improve safety on the beach, for example lifeguard surveillance rooms or improvements to beach access for rescue and patrol vehicles
• Contingency relevant to the size and complexity of the project, as a guide:
  • Category 1 projects - contingency generally will not be required for these projects and should not be included in the budget, unless it can be justified.
  • Category 2 projects - contingency at least 5% - 10% of total project cost should be included.
  • Category 3 projects - contingency at least 10% - 20% of total project cost should be included, plus cost escalation if required.

Applicants for Category 2 and 3 projects are encouraged to use and include the cost of an external project manager which is limited to 5% of the total project cost. Note, this is not applicable where local Council will be undertaking the project on behalf of an eligible applicant, unless the Council is employing an external project management company.

Projects in this category must be completed within 12 months of notification of program outcome.

The project must be completed by 30 April 2025.

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

• Organisations not affiliated with Surf Life Saving NSW
• Individuals
• Local Government Authorities, however, where the Council will be managing the project on behalf of the applicant Surf Club, the Office of Sport will enter into a tri-partite funding agreement with the Council and successful applicant. Local Government Authorities are encouraged to contribute to projects which will be considered as part of the financial co-contribution.

An eligible organisation will be deemed not eligible for funding under this program if they are an organisation named: 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 in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that has not yet joined the National Redress Scheme.

Ineligible projects are any projects or project components that don’t meet the “Eligible projects” section and include but are not limited to:

• Facilities that are not used primarily for Surf Life Saving activities
• Purchase or lease of land/facility
• Projects that involve the development of private or commercial ventures unrelated to the Surf Life Saving Club facility.
• Costs associated with preparing and submitting the funding application
• Costs associated with feasibility, design, or development stages including feasibility studies, business cases and masterplans
• Items that do not meet relevant Australian Standards
• Retrospective funding, where projects have commenced construction or are completed prior to the execution of a funding agreement
• Related primarily to operational expenditure, including but not limited to insurance
• General maintenance or minor repairs required following normal wear and tear (e.g. painting)
• Repair of facilities where the damage can be covered by insurance
• Administration costs with the exception of direct external / independent project management costs, limited to 10% of the grant amount requested
• Purchase of portable equipment including office equipment, rescue and training equipment such as surf boards, stop watches, sails on boats, flagpoles etc that are not part of a facility fit out.
• Projects that have already been funded by the NSW Government unless significant new and additional scope is identified.

Please Note:

Project budget should not include any ineligible costs and these will be removed by assessors if included, at the absolute discretion of the Office of Sport.

Grant requests in this category do not require a co-contribution, however, organisations may contribute to the project, and this will be considered favourably during the merit assessment process.