Regional Events Acceleration Fund Round 2 FAQs
Frequently asked questions regarding the NSW Government’s Regional Events Acceleration Fund, which aims to support the social and economic recovery of our regions after the devastating effects of drought, bushfires and COVID-19.
Round 2 of the Regional Events Acceleration Fund will provide up to $20 million in grants to attract new events to the regions, make existing iconic regional NSW events even bigger and better, and to improve accessibility and inclusion at major events.
Up to $20 million has been allocated to Round Two of the Regional Events Acceleration Fund as part of the NSW Government’s $200 million Regional Recovery Package.
The types of events eligible for funding include:
- major sporting and lifestyle events
- major food and beverage events
- major music, art, cultural and regionally significant agricultural field day events
All applicants must be the event owner (i.e. the applicant either owns or has secured the rights to host the event), must be financially solvent and be either a sole trader, company, incorporated association, or trust entity with an Australian Business Number (ABN).
Applicants must demonstrate the funding is aligned to the following activities:
- Stream One: operational improvements and/or temporary infrastructure needed to boost major event attendance and improve visitor experience at an existing event.
- Stream Two: attracting and delivering a major new international or domestic event or retaining a major event in regional NSW that is “footloose”.
- Stream Three: the purchase or hire of accessibility infrastructure in conjunction with a Stream One or Stream Two application.
Existing events applying to Stream One are required to make a co-contribution through the overall delivery cost of their event and are eligible to apply for funding up to 25% of the total event cost. Evidence of the total event cost must be provided.
New events applying to Stream Two must commit to co-contribution of the funding request. Co-Contributions must be cash and cannot be made in-kind. Evidence of the co-contribution must be provided. Co-contributions cannot be made using funding received from the NSW Government.
Applications to Stream Three must commit to a co-contribution of at least 25 per cent of the funding request. Co-Contributions must be cash and cannot be made in-kind. Evidence of the co-contribution must be provided. Co-contributions cannot be made using funding received from the NSW Government.
No. Cash that is forecast to be gained as revenue through ticket sales, or other revenue streams as a result of the event delivery such as merchandise sales, cannot be used as a co-contribution.
Existing events applying for Stream One are required to make a co-contribution through the overall delivery cost of their event and are eligible to apply for funding of up to 25% of the total event cost.
The following table outlines some examples:
| Total Event Cost without Funding | Stream One Maximum Funding Available | Total Event Cost with Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $200,000 | Ineligible | - |
| $200,000 | $50,000 | $250,000 |
| $400,000 | $100,000 | $500,000 |
| $600,000 | $150,000 | $500,000 |
| $800,000+ | $200,000 | $1,000,000+ |
Stream Two applicants are required to commit to a co-contribution of at least 25 per cent of funding request. The following table outlines some examples:
| Minimum Co-contribution required | Stream Two - Funding Request | Total Event Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 |
| $125,000 | $500,000 | $625,000 |
| $250,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,250,000 |
| $500,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,500,000 |
No. Eligible applicants can only apply to either Stream One or Two depending on their event type. Stream One applications are best suited to existing events that are seeking to boost attendance and improve visitor experience. Stream Two applications are best suited to attracting and delivering new international or domestic events in regional NSW.
No. Stream Three is considered supplementary and applicants must apply for either Stream One or Two to be eligible for Stream Three. Applying for Stream Three is completed within the same application as either Stream One or Two and is assessed as a combined application.
Yes. Stream Three applications that propose to purchase event infrastructure must demonstrate purchasing the equipment is more economical than hiring, and there will be ongoing benefits as a result of the infrastructure at future events in regional NSW. Note this applies only to Stream Three funding and that applications to Stream One or Two cannot use the Stream One or Two funding to purchase event infrastructure.
Yes. Event owners are encouraged to partner with their local council as part of their application to Stream Three and purchase either fixed or mobile event infrastructure to improve accessibility, that can also be used by other events hosted in the community. Purchased event infrastructure must be in place for the event for which the applicant has applied for funding and must remain in regional NSW for the life of the asset.
Stream Three applicants are required to commit to a co-contribution of at least 25 per cent of funding request. The following table outlines some examples:
| Minimum Co-contribution required | Stream Three - Funding Request | Total Stream Three Project Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $6,250 | $25,000 | $31,250 |
| $12,500 | $50,000 | $62,500 |
| $18,750 | $75,000 | $93,750 |
| $25,000 | $100,000 | $125,000 |
An event is considered “footloose” if it is not tied to a particular location and can be relocated. Applicants seeking funding through Stream Two on the basis of retaining the event in regional NSW must be able to clearly demonstrate the event is genuinely “footloose” and at imminent risk of relocating interstate, internationally or to metro NSW. Existing events that are not considered “footloose” should consider whether they are eligible to apply for Stream One.
For-profit entities and events that exist to make a profit are eligible to apply and must demonstrate the event will deliver a clear public benefit. Applicants must demonstrate the event is viable and sustainable into the future without further NSW Government support.
Applications for Round Two opened Friday 18 March 2022 and closed at 5pm on Tuesday 4 October 2022. The funding under Round Two will support events hosted between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023.
Yes, there is a range of resources and tools available on this webpage to support potential applicants to make their submissions. Potential applicants are encouraged to register for an online information session here.
Staff from the Department of Regional NSW are also available to support applicants with their applications. Please contact tourism.programs@regional.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 679 673 to access this support.
No. Costs related to marketing, advertising, or event promotions that will occur prior to the event being held are ineligible. Costs for signage at the event and marketing activities that will occur during the event delivery are eligible to include as part of the event delivery costs.
Event owners are encouraged to apply for marketing related funding through Destination NSW’s Regional Event Fund.
Yes. Events hosted on the border of NSW and another state are eligible to apply if you can demonstrate within your application that at least 80 per cent of the event’s activity will be physically based in NSW, or at least 50 per cent of the economic benefit generated by the event will occur in NSW.
Yes. Events that have already secured or are seeking funding from another NSW Government program are eligible to apply for funding through the Regional Events Acceleration Fund. Funding secured from the NSW Government cannot be used as the co-contribution and applicants will need to demonstrate how the activities funded by the Regional Events Acceleration Fund are different from the other NSW Government funded activities.
Yes. Applicants are encouraged to include letters of support from their relevant Destination Network, their local council, and other local stakeholders.
Yes, events with fewer than 5,000 attendees are eligible to apply if the event owner can provide strong evidence the event is regionally significant and will generate economic benefit for regional NSW. Evidence to support regional significance could include daytrip and overnight visitation and/or national or international exposure for regional NSW through broadcast or other media coverage of the event.
Applicants should demonstrate how the event will leave a positive legacy within the local community after the event has been completed. Examples of this could include:
- hosting a community workshop or sports clinic to engage disadvantaged members of the community and to encourage participation in sport before a major sporting event.
- providing an opportunity for the community to meet the headline artist at a free event the day before the concert.
- engaging a community group to manage parking at the event and providing them with a donation in return.
Please see below for a list of eligible LGAs:
Albury City Council
Armidale Regional Council
Ballina Shire Council
Balranald Shire Council
Bathurst Regional Council
Bega Valley Shire Council
Bellingen Shire Council
Berrigan Shire Council
Bland Shire Council
Blayney Shire Council
Bogan Shire Council
Bourke Shire Council
Brewarrina Shire Council
Broken Hill City Council
Byron Shire Council
Cabonne Council
Carrathool Shire Council
Central Coast Council
Central Darling Shire Council
Cessnock City Council
Clarence Valley Council
Cobar Shire Council
Coffs Harbour City Council
Coolamon Shire Council
Coonamble Shire Council
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council
Cowra Shire Council
Dubbo Regional Council
Dungog Shire Council
Edward River Council
Eurobodalla Shire Council
Federation Council
Forbes Shire Council
Gilgandra Shire Council
Glen Innes Severn Council
Goulburn Mulwaree Council
Greater Hume Shire Council
Griffith City Council
Gunnedah Shire Council
Gwydir Shire Council
Hay Shire Council
Hilltops Council
Inverell Shire Council
Junee Shire Council
Kempsey Shire Council
Kiama, The Council of the Municipality of
Kyogle Council
Lachlan Shire Council
Lake Macquarie City Council
Leeton Shire Council
Lismore City Council
Lithgow Council, City of
Liverpool Plains Shire Council
Lockhart Shire Council
Maitland City Council
Mid-Coast Council
Mid-Western Regional Council
Moree Plains Shire Council
Murray River Council
Murrumbidgee Council
Muswellbrook Shire Council
Nambucca Valley Council
Narrabri Shire Council
Narrandera Shire Council
Narromine Shire Council
Oberon Council
Orange City Council
Parkes Shire Council
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Port Stephens Council
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council
Richmond Valley Council
Shellharbour City Council
Shoalhaven City Council
Singleton Council
Snowy Monaro Regional Council
Snowy Valleys Council
Tamworth Regional Council
Temora Shire Council
Tenterfield Shire Council
Tweed Shire Council
Upper Hunter Shire Council
Upper Lachlan Shire Council
Uralla Shire Council
Wagga Wagga City Council
Walcha Council
Walgett Shire Council
Warren Shire Council
Warrumbungle Shire Council
Weddin Shire Council
Wentworth Shire Council
Wingecarribee Shire Council
Yass Valley Council
Unincorporated Far West Region
Lord Howe Island
To be considered regionally significant, the agricultural field day must:
- have a demonstrated history of attracting over 5,000 people to the event and
- have a demonstrated history of attracting more than 30 per cent attendance from visitors, with a visitor defined as being someone who lives 50km or more from where the event is being held.
Agricultural/Country Shows may be eligible for funding through the Country Shows Support Package.
The Community Events Program opened Thursday 7 April and closed 24 June 2022. This program will fund eligible regional NSW councils to deliver local community events that support economic and social recovery across regional NSW.