Resources
Potential applicants are encouraged to review all resources to ensure the application addresses the relevant requirements
Eligible Local Government Areas
WestInvest will fund projects in the below listed 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs):
- Blacktown
- Blue Mountains
- Burwood
- Camden
- Campbelltown
- Canterbury-Bankstown
- Cumberland
- Fairfield
- Hawkesbury
- Liverpool
- Parramatta
- Penrith
- Strathfield
- The Hills
- Wollondilly
Focus Areas
Projects must be located in one or more of the eligible LGAs and may provide a benefit across multiple eligible LGAs. Projects must address one or more of the six focus areas, drive transformational change at a local, LGA or regional scale and demonstrate community support.
Partnerships between applicants to deliver regional infrastructure (e.g. parks, cycleways) across one or more LGA boundaries are encouraged.
Potential outcomes for projects that may be eligible against the program focus areas are listed below:
Improves amenities and variety of existing and new public spaces – for example:
- Increase availability and accessibility to parks and natural environment.
- Improves access for water based recreation including swimming.
- Improves the biodiversity and environmental sustainability of an area through cleaner and natural waterways.
Improves the amount and quality of public and community spaces – for example:
- Improve access to quality sport, recreation and community facilities.
- Improve infrastructure resilience including reduction in urban heat island effect.
- Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to emerging community needs and standards.
Improves modernity of schools and student outcomes – for example:
- Students are able to learn in education facilities that are fit for purpose, cooler and resilient.
- School facilities are adaptable to evolving educational standards and able to facilitate an increasingly technology and digital focused environment.
- Provision of digital infrastructure that continues to improve digital and IT equality between the public and private sectors, including the next-gen ‘productivity multipliers’ of digital classrooms and virtual reality skills training
Improves community participation and engagement in meaningful community arts and culture offerings – for example:
- Arts and culture are accessible and reflect the diversity of the western Sydney community.
- Facilities promote more active and regular community participation in arts and culture activities
- Facilities that provide opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to celebrate culture and connections to Country.
- Increased access to art and cultural experiences by embedding art installations, sculptures and light shows in new open and green spaces.
Improves amenities and safety across vibrant town centres – for example:
- Safer travel after dark and cooler travel by day with connections to nature.
- Increased access to essential goods and services, and recreational activities within walking distance (e.g. buy groceries or coffee and walk the dog).
- Increased vibrancy of the hospitality and night-time economy, including dining, entertainment, retail, and vibrant and active commercial centres.
- Renewal of facilities or public spaces to develop high quality, inclusive and attractive public spaces through public art or other improvements to support community connectedness and belonging.
Promotes safer and more efficient travel within communities – for example:
- Local streets are designed as comfortable places for a diverse range of needs (e.g. walking, wheeling and cycling, reducing reliance on cars). which would improve the liveability of neighbourhoods
- Safer travel (by car, bicycle, foot, or mobility aid) around the community.
- Speed limits give priority to appropriate mode (e.g. pedestrian, bike, public transport or car).
- Sufficient availability of active transport options to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce car-dependency
Allocated Funds
Approximately $400 million has been allocated to the Community Project Grants – Local Government Allocation.
Each of the 15 eligible councils is eligible for between $21 million and $35 million, made up of a $20 million base allocation plus $38 per head of population based on ABS 2020 data.
The minimum funding amount that can be applied for per project is $250,000. There is no cap on the amount of funding that can be applied for as long as the project is of a transformational scale and meets the criteria of the WestInvest program.
Assessment Process
There are two steps to the assessment of an application under the Community Project Grants- Local Government Allocation. The steps are:
- Eligibility review. This step will assess all projects to ensure the applicant and the project meet all eligibility requirements.
- Project assessment. All eligible applicants and projects will be assessed against the criteria in the Guidelines.
Assessment Criteria
All eligible applications will be assessed against the following five criteria:
- Liveability (20%) – demonstrate how the project will enhance or improve liveability for a defined community
- Transformational (20%) – demonstrate how the project’s liveability outcomes will endure over time, and /or can augment community benefits with other initiatives and/or capitalises on a time-limited opportunity.
- Value for Money (20%) – demonstrate that the project is cost effective and will deliver benefit to the community
- Deliverability (20%) – demonstrate that the applicant has the capacity and expertise to deliver the project within budget and timeframes and has or can obtain all necessary approvals and consents.
- Viability (20%) – demonstrate that the owner of the infrastructure can manage and maintain it.
Contact Us
Get in touch for more information about eligibility criteria, timeframes, and costs; or if you have any questions about the application process.
- Email – westinvest@dpc.nsw.gov.au
- Phone – 9228 5260
For media enquiries please contact the Department of Premier and Cabinet media team at media@dpc.nsw.gov.au