This fund supports the repair and rebuilding of public assets directly damaged by the bushfires of 2019/20 and flood events of 2021 and early 2022.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $100,000 to $10,000,000
- Application opened: 6 October 2022
- Application closed: 15 December 2022, 2:00 pm
Program objective
The Australian and NSW governments delivering a new approach to rebuilding disaster affected roads, bridges and other critical public infrastructure, making them more resilient and able to better withstand future natural disasters.
This $512.5 million fund will be delivered in two complementary Betterment Programs:
- $200 million Infrastructure Betterment Fund
- $312.5 million Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package (RRTRP).
Under existing Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, infrastructure like roads can only be built back to current standards and potentially without any future resilience improvements.
These betterment programs will promote rebuilding infrastructure in a way that reduces vulnerability to future disasters, provides continuity of essential services and lowers the risk of economic impact due to a natural disaster.
The Infrastructure Betterment Fund will consider not only where but how essential public assets are being built. Better, stronger public assets mean that the risks associated with future natural disasters can be minimised.
This program is funded and administered by Department of Regional NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
- NSW Local government councils and Section 355 committees
- County councils
- Local Aboriginal Land Councils
- NSW Government departments and agencies
Who can’t apply
- Joint organisations of council
- County Councils that are for the primary purpose of weed control
- Community organisations
- Not-for-profit organisations
- Non-government organisations
- Incorporated companies or associations
- State owned corporations
- Community authorities
Example projects
Transport - roads or bridges:
- changes in material type that something is constructed from
- relocation of a critical or high dependency asset beyond natural disaster high risk areas
- addition of a lane or increase in bridge span
- changing the height of a road or bridge or adding pull-off areas/ stopping bays
- and/or an increase in drainage capacity
- engineering re-design works to modify peak flows, drainage size and flow
- volume
- realignment of road or bridge to reduce asset exposure to risk
- accessibility improvements
- hazard notification system barrier systems, signage and other road furniture installation.
Tourism - signage, information assets, attractions, walking tracks:
- changes in material type that something is constructed from
- changes to a layout or improved way finding for improved evacuation
- changes to protection devices such as increase water tank storage, sprinklers and hazard notification systems
Sewerage and water - Stormwater management assets, wastewater management assets and water supply and reticulation assets:
- engineering re-design works to modify peak flows, drainage size and flow volume
- ground stabilisation such as scour protection in and around drainage lines, intakes and discharge locations
- increase in storage capacity and improved flow control
- relocation of a critical or high-dependency asset beyond natural disaster high risk areas
- replacement of open collection/treatment ponds to tanked systems
- installation of remote monitoring and control systems
Telecommunications - radio towers, cabling, relay stations and electricity sub-stations that exclusively support telecommunications:
- installation of protective shelters for equipment cabinet
- relocation of a critical or high dependency asset beyond natural disaster high risk areas
- access improvements e.g. drainage, sealing, realignment
- installation of remote monitoring systems.
Other public service infrastructure - health, education, justice or welfare infrastructure:
- accessibility improvements
- changes to a layout for improved utility in an evacuation
- hazard notification system installation
- relocation of a critical or high dependency asset beyond natural disaster high risk areas.
The full list of example projects can be found in the program guidelines (PDF 2.65MB).
What you can't apply for
- Works on assets not directly damaged by the Eligible Disaster Declaration Events as noted in the program guidelines (PDF 2.65MB).
- Projects outside eligible local government areas
- Projects that do not relate to betterment of damaged eligible infrastructure
- Funding is not for the reconstruction or repair of the damaged asset but for the resilience improvement activity.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
For further details about the Infrastructure Betterment Fund including key dates, available funding, and application and assessment processes, refer to the program guidelines (PDF 2.65MB).
Online Information Sessions
An online information session held to provide prospective applicants with information about the Fund was held on 3 November.
Please view the recording of this session here.
Address the eligibility criteria
Funding will be allocated towards local and state owned Essential Public Assets that are classified as Eligible Infrastructure under the program guidelines. This includes transport, tourism, water and sewerage, telecommunications and/or other public service assets that are an integral part of NSW’s economy and the typical functions that serve a community.
For further details about eligibility, including eligible applicants, assets, projects and costs, refer to the program guidelines (PDF 2.65MB).
Address the assessment criteria
Strategic: A project’s alignment with the Infrastructure Betterment Fund objective, betterment core values and relevant government strategies
- To what extent the project aligns with the Infrastructure Betterment Fund objective and betterment core values of resilience, productivity and economic
- To what extent the project aligns with Australian, NSW and/or local government strategies
- To what extent the project is significant for the region and community
Resilience: The extent of current and future hazard(s) and risk mitigation expected with the additionality of the betterment activity
- A risk assessment detailing the hazard current risk(s) and any assumptions around data gaps and future risk
- To what extent the betterment activity will result in an increased capacity to avoid and/or mitigate those risks
- To what extent the betterment activity will improve one or more of the elements of infrastructure resilience
- Any value-add for resilience against other hazards
Viability: The deliverability and affordability of the project
- Project costings and quotes, including appropriate contingency, escalation and project management budget line items
- Appropriate project designs and approvals required
- Applicant has demonstrated skills and capacity to deliver the project through past performance in delivering similar projects (for example, detailing managerial capability to carry out the project)
- Suitability of the staff or arrangements to deliver the project
- Confirmation of asset lifecycle management considerations
Economic: The quantification and/ or qualification of the economic benefit(s) a project will deliver
- A cost estimate/budget must be submitted with each application
- An economic benefits assessment of the project(s) must be included and include an assessment of the benefits of undertaking the project and consequences of not undertaking the project (this template is built into the application form)
Other factors may be considered by the Assessment Panel when making recommendations for successful projects. Please refer to the program guidelines (PDF 2.65MB) for further details.
Resources to assist applicants to complete the economic assessment
- Economic Assessment General FAQs (PDF 137.85KB)
- Economic Assessment Template (XLSX 1.13MB)
- Economic Assessment Help Sheet - Other Public Infrastructure Asset Types (PDF 182.45KB)
- Economic Assessment Help Sheet - Telecommunication Asset Types (PDF 179.6KB)
- Economic Assessment Help Sheet - Tourism Asset Types (PDF 177.45KB)
- Economic Assessment Help Sheet - Transport Asset Types (PDF 175.85KB)
- Economic Assessment Help Sheet Water and Sewerage Asset Types (PDF 178.07KB)
Frequently asked questions
Read the answers to the most frequently asked questions about this fund and the application process.
Start the application
Local Government, County Councils, Local Aboriginal Land Councils and NSW Government departments and agencies can apply via SmartyGrants in the Apply now button below.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Department of Regional NSW
The Department of Regional NSW will conduct a checkpoint review of all applications for eligibility, suitability and completeness.
The Department will work with applicants to clarify information and if appropriate, may refer an Infrastructure Betterment Fund application to the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package, which is administered by Transport for NSW.
Once the application is complete it will be reviewed against the assessment criteria and provided to the Assessment Panel.
The Assessment Panel will undertake further review of the applications against the assessment criteria in the program guidelines.
Announcements of successful projects are likely to be rolling and will be made by the Australian and NSW Government. Projects will be managed through a funding deed which will include requirements for successful applicants to participate in regular reporting and program evaluation.
Unsuccessful or ineligible applicants will be notified of the outcome and will be offered feedback and information on other relevant funding programs.
Applicants should be aware of their obligations by reviewing the program guidelines (PDF 2.65MB).
Support and contact
Contact the Department of Regional NSW if you need further information on eligibility, time frames or if you have questions about the application form on the portal:
- Phone: 1300 679 673
- Email: infrastructure.betterment@regional.nsw.gov.au