Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $30,000 to $1,000,000
- Application opened: 12 September 2024
- Application closed: 11 November 2024, 1:00 pm
Program objective
The NSW Government recognises the critical role Surf Life Saving Clubs have in local communities delivering on-beach safety, training and education and keeping people active and connected. The Program is in its seventh year, and since round one (2017/2018) the NSW Government has invested over $23 million in Surf Life Saving Clubs to create fit-for-purpose facilities in local communities to increase participation, access, and safety on our NSW beaches. In the 2023/24 Budget the NSW government announced an additional $5 million over four years to enhance the Program. The 2024/2025 round will continue to support the upgrade, expansion, and construction of new, safe and inclusive Surf Club facilities in NSW.
The Program aims to assist eligible Surf Life Saving Clubs throughout NSW to create new and upgraded inclusive and accessible facilities incorporating best practice design principles that:
- Remove barriers to participation in sport and recreation for everyone but particularly for women and girls, people with disability, First Nations People, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and LGBTQIA+ people
- Increase the use of Surf Life Saving facilities by other community groups and/or the public
- Improve safety at Surf Life Saving facilities and the beaches they patrol
- Improve the financial and/or environmental sustainability of surf clubs.
Funding Availability
The NSW Government has allocated up to $5,404,000 for this Program in 2024/25.
In 2024/25, the Program will take applications across three funding categories. The three categories have been designed so that the requirements for grant applications are scaled according to project size and complexity.
The categories are defined by the total project cost of the scope of works for which you are applying.
Category 1 - Facility Improvements Projects - Projects with a total project cost less than $100,000
Provides grants from $30,000 up to $100,000 per project. 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.
Category 2 - Small-Medium Construction Projects - Projects with a total project cost from $100,000 up to $500,000
Provides grants from $30,000 up to $400,000 per project. Applications in this category require a financial co-contribution that is a minimum 25% of the grant amount requested.
Category 3 - Large Construction Projects - Projects with a total project cost of $500,000 or more
Provides grants from $30,000 up to $1,000,000 per project. Applications in this category require a financial co-contribution that is at least equal to, or greater than the grant amount requested.
This program is administered by Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are:
- Surf Life Saving Clubs in NSW; or
- Surf Life Saving NSW Branches. Branches are able to apply for projects in line with the Program objectives for surf club related works e.g., storage sheds for emergency equipment. These applications will only be considered after all eligible applications from Surf Life Saving Clubs have been assessed and the funding has not been exhausted.
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.
Types of projects funded under this grant
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.
Note: Projects that meet this these conditions for priority must still be able to meet the delivery timeframe for the relevant category. This is demonstrated through provision of the necessary approvals, finalised designs and a clear project timeline.
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 that contribute to safety and/or security.
- 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 related to rescue/safety activities that are part of a larger capital improvement project scope, e.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 rooms for lifeguard surveillance or nipper training or improvements to beach access for rescue and patrol vehicles.
- Projects that contribute to the Surf Clubs financial sustainability, eg kitchen and/or function room upgrades that generate increased bookings and revenue for the Surf Club.
Applicants for Category 2 and 3 projects are encouraged to use and include the cost of an external project manager which is limited to 10% 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 engaging an external contractor to deliver the project.
Where the application is seeking funding for a project that is a component or stage of a larger facility upgrade/rebuild, you can reference the broader project in your project description, but the application should relate only to the project scope for which you are seeking funding. Your responses throughout the application should relate only to the application’s scope of work including when defining the project scope, how the project meets the Program Objectives and the budget information (income and expenditure).
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Failure to provide any of this supporting documentation will negatively impact the merit assessment score your application receives. All applications should provide:
- Evidence confirming all financial co-contribution sources (where applicable).
- Development approval, application, or exemption. Where a development application is required but not yet approved, the approval will be required as a stage gate in the funding agreement.
- Approval from landowner for project to proceed (where the applicant is the landowner, evidence to demonstrate this). This must be on the Office of Sport template – see “Available supporting documents”.
- Current images of current facility/development site.
- Quotes that clearly detail items/scope of works. Any quotes provided must be on company letterhead from the organisation that supplies the goods or services.*
- For larger construction projects a cost estimate prepared by a Quantity Surveyor is preferred. *
- For the supply of goods and services exceeding $250,000 an open tender will be required. If this tender documentation is not available at grant application, it will need to be submitted as a milestone requirement for successful applications.
- Evidence of Public Liability Insurance (must be provided if successful).
*Quotes and cost estimates that are recent (within 3-6 months of grant submission) will be given higher rating. Applications where three quotes are provided will be given a higher rating than only one or two quotes.
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
Step 1: Check your eligibility
- See Eligible applicants section of these Guidelines to see which organisations can apply for funding.
- If you are not eligible, you can partner with an eligible organisation, although they will need to be the applicant organisation and submit the application.
Step 2: Understand the requirements
- Before you apply, please read these guidelines and related materials to make sure you understand all relevant requirements, including whether you are eligible to apply.
- You can find the relevant information on the Office of Sport’s website.
Step 3: Prepare your application
- Gather your evidence including letters of support, funding commitments, development approvals/exemptions, images/plans, quotes, participation data etc.
- The Office of Sport recommends that applicants familiarise themselves with the online application form ahead of preparing the application and plan to submit ahead of the closing date to reduce the risk of missing the deadline.
- To submit a complying application all mandatory fields must be completed, and mandatory support documents uploaded and submitted.
- Applying for a grant is a simple process using the SmartyGrants platform.
- SmartyGrants offers a tool, SmartyFile that allows organisations to collaborate with team members, pre-fill information into forms and manage, view, search and sort submissions across multiple funders in one spot. Applicants with an ABN can use this function.
- For questions relating to the grants program or for specific assistance with the online system, email the Office of Sport Grants Unit at grantsunit@sport.nsw.gov.au or call 13 13 02 during standard office hours.
Step 4: Submit your application
- Complete your application by filling in each of the sections.
- Upload all required supporting documentation.
- Submit your application before the closing date and time.
- Projects must be submitted through the SmartyGrants website to be considered eligible.
Successful submissions will be issued with a SmartyGrants system generated acknowledgement email containing a PDF copy of the application which will confirm the time the application was submitted.
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 Sport
The Surf Club Facility Program is administered by the Office of Sport in two stages:
- Eligibility check
- Merit assessment.
Throughout the assessment process the Office of Sport may seek to clarify statements or information provided in the application at its sole discretion.
An independent probity advisor will oversee the grant process and attend all Grant Assessment Panel meetings.
A Grant Assessment Panel will assess all eligible applications and make recommendations to the Minister for Sport. Where the Grant Assessment Panel changes the eligibility status of an application, the Program Team will undertake a preliminary merit assessment.
The Minister for Sport will consider the recommendations of the Grant Assessment Panel and make decisions relating to the approval of funding.
Anticipated assessment outcome date is March 2025
Support and contact
Office of Sport
Sports Grants
grantsunit@sport.nsw.gov.au
13 13 02 (option 5, then option 2)