IMPORTANT CHANGES TO REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT FUNDING
On Monday 24th October, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Catherine King MP announced the Australian Government is adopting a new approach to regional infrastructure grant funding.
The Government has made the following announcements:
The Government will deliver two new regional programs in the 2022-23 October Budget to invest in much needed community infrastructure in way that is transparent, fairer and more sustainable.
The Government will consult on the guidelines to ensure best practice transparency and consistency of process, as well as fairer distribution of funds to ensure people can have confidence in the new programs.
NEW Programs
The Growing Regions Program will provide new opportunities for regional local councils and not-for-profit organisations to construct or upgrade community infrastructure through an annual open, competitive grants process.
The regional Precincts and Partnerships Program will provide a strategic, nationally consistent mechanism for funding and coordinating larger-scale projects that transform a place, to benefit communities in regional cities and wider rural and regional Australia.
CHANGED Programs
Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) – The BBRF will be discontinued and no further funding will be available. All contracted projects from Rounds 1-5 will be honoured. Round 6 will not proceed. Applicants who applied for funding under Round 6 of the BBRF are being notified of the program’s status and will be able to apply to the Growing Regions Program. For further information, please contact the Business Grants Hub on 13 28 46.
Community Development Grants Programme (CDG) – the CDG will close. Applicants with approved but as yet uncontracted CDG projects will have 6 months to contract their project and then complete by 30 June 2026. Commitments announced by the former Government during the 2022 Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Outlook will be delivered through new election commitment programs. More information will be made available through the 2022-23 October Budget.