Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $2,000,000 to $10,000,000
- Application opened: 18 October 2024
- Application closed: 16 December 2024
Program objective
The objectives for this funding round are to:
- partner with councils and state agencies to deliver growth-related infrastructure
- provide funding for the planning and delivery of infrastructure that supports housing growth within the Western Sydney Growth Areas
- enhance the infrastructure pipeline prior to the Housing and Productivity Contribution transition in 2026/27
This program is administered by Department of Planning and Environment.
Eligibility
Who can apply
The following applicants are eligible under Round 6 of the Special Infrastructure Contributions Funding Program:
NSW Government Agencies
- Department of Communities and Justice
- Fire and Rescue NSW
- NSW Department of Education – School Infrastructure
- NSW Health:
- NSW Ambulance
- Health Infrastructure NSW
- NSW Police
- Property and Development NSW – Planning Ministerial Corporation
- Transport for NSW
Local Government
- Blacktown City Council
- Camden Council
- Campbelltown City Council
- Hawkesbury City Council
- The Hills Shire Council
- Liverpool City Council
Location that are eligible include Blacktown, Camden, Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, The Hills Shire
Types of projects funded under this grant
Applicants should nominate infrastructure projects that show the ability to support new homes.
All infrastructure projects identified in the Western Sydney Growth Areas Special Infrastructure Contribution Determination 2011 and the proposed North West Growth Area Special Infrastructure Contribution 2018 are eligible for this funding round.
Applicants can nominate new projects not identified in the Western Sydney Growth Areas Special Infrastructure Contribution Determination 2011 or the proposed North West Growth Area Special Infrastructure Contribution 2018. New projects must be within the Western Sydney Growth Areas Special Contributions Area. They must be of a similar scale and nature to identified infrastructure. All new projects must meet the new project eligibility test. See Attachment A of the funding round guidelines.
We strongly encourage you to contact the Special Infrastructure Contributions Funding Program team to discuss if the proposed new project is eligible. Please email sic.program@dpie.nsw.gov.au with any enquiries about new projects.
When the project can start and end
Land acquisition and construction projects must be completed within four years by 30 June 2029
The project should be started by 1 July 2025 and the project must be completed by 30 June 2029.
Who can’t apply
All other organisations not listed under eligible applicants.
Types of projects not funded under this grant
The following are out of scope and not eligible for funding under the Special Infrastructure Contributions Funding Program:
- operational expenditure associated with the project once delivered
- infrastructure already fully funded by local, state or federal government
- infrastructure outside the Western Sydney Growth Areas Special Contributions Area[1]
- community consultation expenditure
- costs associated with legal matters for the project
- costs associated with iNSW Gateway assurance review
- any expenses not expressly identified in the scope of the funding agreement
- expenditure above the agreed funding amount
- expenditure incurred before the announcement that the project has been funded
- administrative infrastructure, including computers, mobile phones, software or hardware
- payment of salaries for existing staff or staff not involved in the project
- administrative overhead items such as office equipment, vehicles or mobile capital equipment (for example, earthmoving equipment and trucks)
- ancillary projects identified after funding was approved.
[1] Land acquisition items for conservation and open space outside of the Growth Centres precincts listed in the Western Sydney Growth Areas Special Infrastructure Contribution Determination 2011 and proposed North West Growth Area Special Infrastructure Contribution 2018 are eligible for Round 6 funding.
Example projects
The below lists examples of eligible infrastructure types:
- Regional roads
- Intersections
- Bridges
- Public transport infrastructure
- Emergency services*
- Justice*
- Health*
- Education*
- Region open space*
- Biodiversity*
*Applicants can only submit land acquisition nominations for these types of projects.
What co-contributions are required
Co-contributions are not mandatory. However, the department encourages applicants to commit funding towards the project. The Special Infrastructure Contributions Funding Program team will use a Rapid Cost-Benefit Analysis model as part of the assessment process. A project with a co-contribution will likely rank higher than one without a co-contribution.
Most recent recipients
What was approved
Approved for Blacktown City Council
Land at 201 Guntawong Road is acquired to extend Hambledon Road North from Guntawong Road to Schofields Road, enabling access to the new Tallawong High School and improving local connectivity.
$10,000,000 was approved by
Minister for Planning and Public SpacesDate approved
August 2025Location of the recipient
Tallawong 2762About the grant
Applications approved
6
Applications received
26
Western Sydney Growth Areas Special Infrastructure Contributions Funding Round 6
Program term
Land acquisition projects must be completed within 4 years by 30 June 2029. Planning and design projects must be completed within 3 years by 30 June 2028.What was approved
Approved for Camden Council
Land acquisition allows for widening of Ingleburn and Rickard Roads, supporting increased traffic volumes and improving access to Leppington High School, town centre, and train station.
$9,500,000 was approved by
Minister for Planning and Public SpacesDate approved
August 2025Location of the recipient
Leppington 2179About the grant
Applications approved
6
Applications received
26
Western Sydney Growth Areas Special Infrastructure Contributions Funding Round 6
Program term
Land acquisition projects must be completed within 4 years by 30 June 2029. Planning and design projects must be completed within 3 years by 30 June 2028.What was approved
Approved for Fire & Rescue NSW
Land is secured to build a new Fire & Rescue Station in Box Hill to accommodate increased demand from nearby urban development. The new facility addresses service gaps left by existing stations at Riverstone and Kellyville.
$3,500,000 was approved by
Minister for Planning and Public SpacesDate approved
August 2025Location of the recipient
Box Hill 2765About the grant
Applications approved
6
Applications received
26
Western Sydney Growth Areas Special Infrastructure Contributions Funding Round 6
Program term
Land acquisition projects must be completed within 4 years by 30 June 2029. Planning and design projects must be completed within 3 years by 30 June 2028.What was approved
Approved for NSW Department of Education
Land is acquired for a new school site in Kelly Street, Austral, in response to rapid greenfield development and sustained population growth across the SWGA North Primary study area.
$10,000,000 was approved by
Minister for Planning and Public SpacesDate approved
August 2025Location of the recipient
Austral 2179About the grant
Applications approved
6
Applications received
26
Western Sydney Growth Areas Special Infrastructure Contributions Funding Round 6
Program term
Land acquisition projects must be completed within 4 years by 30 June 2029. Planning and design projects must be completed within 3 years by 30 June 2028.What was approved
Approved for NSW Department of Education
Land is acquired for a new school site in Austral to meet service demand driven by ongoing residential growth in the SWGA North Primary study area, which has one of NSW's fastest-growing populations.
$10,000,000 was approved by
Minister for Planning and Public SpacesDate approved
August 2025Location of the recipient
Austral 2179About the grant
Applications approved
6
Applications received
26
Western Sydney Growth Areas Special Infrastructure Contributions Funding Round 6
Program term
Land acquisition projects must be completed within 4 years by 30 June 2029. Planning and design projects must be completed within 3 years by 30 June 2028.What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
1. All proposed projects must meet the following mandatory criteria:
- The project must show how it supports new housing.
- The funding requested must fall within the range of $2 million to $10 million*.
- Construction projects must be completed within 4 years by 30 June 2029.
- The applicant must own the land for construction projects.
- Land acquisition projects must be completed within 4 years by 30 June 2029.
- Planning and design projects must be completed within 3 years by 30 June 2028.
- The project must be within the Western Sydney Growth Areas Special Contributions Area.
- The application form must be complete, and all mandatory attachments included.
* Note that grants are GST exclusive.
2. Proposed Project must be an eligible infrastructure type and category
Please visit the WSGA SIC webpage for information, including a copy of the program guidelines.
3. Develop project service catchment mapping and housing benefit estimate
Please visit the WSGA SIC webpage for information, including a copy of the program guidelines
4. Complete and submit an online application form
Please visit WSGA SIC Grant Funding Round 6 webpage
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.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
The assessment process for this funding round is as follows:
- review of eligibility assessment
- service catchment analysis
- economic assessment using a rapid Cost Benefit Analysis model
- independent technical review by a technical consultant
- independent strategic review by expert panel
Support and contact
For more information about this funding round please email the Special Infrastructure Contributions Funding Program team at sic.program@dpie.nsw.gov.au.
You can also visit the website: Western Sydney Growth Areas Special Infrastructure Contributions website