Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: From $5,000 to $300,000 or until the $2 million allocated to the program has been exhausted, whichever is sooner.
- Application opened: 10 March 2025
- Application closes: 30 June 2028, 6:00 pm
Program objective
The $2 million Boating Infrastructure Emergency Repair Pool Grants Program (BIERP) seeks to accelerate the replacement or repair of boating facilities which have been impacted by natural disasters and severe weather events and return them to service. The Program acknowledges that public boating infrastructure not only serves recreational and commercial boaters but also provides access points to NSW waterways, with some assets also providing evacuation points for regional communities.
The BIERP is a sub-program under the $44 million Boating Infrastructure and Dredging Scheme announced in August 2024.
This program is administered by Transport for NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Applications are welcomed from local councils, government agencies, community groups and the private sector :
- Councils – Local government authorities responsible for public boating infrastructure.
- Government Agencies – State or federal agencies managing public boating assets.
- Community Groups – Not-for-profit organisations involved in managing or maintaining public boating facilities.
- Private Sector – Private organisations that own, manage, and operate public boating infrastructure.
Applicants can submit separate applications for different asset locations or project sites affected by the same natural disaster or severe weather event.
Types of projects funded under this grant
The types of projects that will be considered for funding under the BIERP are summarised below:
- Repair or replacement: the reinstatement of the infrastructure asset to its working condition prior to the natural disaster or severe weather event.
- Betterment: minor changes to replacement design that improves resilience of the asset against future natural disasters or severe weather events.
- Access for repair and reinstatement: Work to provide access for repair, replacement and betterment can be funded if it is directly related to the above works. For example, the removal of a collapsed tree across a jetty to gain access to repair the pontoon at the end of the jetty
What your application needs to include
Completed Application Form
- Submit via Transport's SmartyGrants portal within 3 months of the incident
- Clearly indicate if application is for repairs only, betterment only, or repairs with betterment
- Complete all sections in the application form with detailed responses
Detailed Project Plan
- A clear and concise overview of the project
- Provide details of the natural disaster or severe weather event that caused the damage
- Including scope, timelines, and key milestones
- Include location details and asset information
- Explain the scope of required repairs or betterment works
- Outline the expected outcomes after completion
Project Justification
- Document the extent and nature of damage from the natural disaster or weather event
- Explain how the proposed works will restore the asset to working condition
- If requesting betterment, provide justification for improved resilience measures
- Demonstrate how repairs align with program objectives
Budget Breakdown
- A clear and detailed budget, showing expected project costs and any co-funding contributions
- Provide breakdown of in-kind contributions (if applicable)
- Include any insurance claim details and expected payouts
Supporting Documentation
- Maps or diagrams of the project area
- Evidence of damage
- Before and after photos of damage
- Records of maintenance for the facility and its assets within the grant applications submission*
- Letters of support from community stakeholders or relevant authorities*
- Permits or approvals required for the project (or evidence of pending applications)
Evidence of Past Maintenance
- Provide maintenance records and schedules
- Include recent inspection reports with photographs
- Submit asset maintenance plans
- Document routine maintenance activities
- Demonstrate appropriate level of past maintenance
Project Benefits Statement
- Explain how the asset serves recreational and commercial boaters
- Document the asset's role in providing waterway access
- Identify if the asset serves as an evacuation point
- Demonstrate ongoing public benefit after repairs
Submission Requirements
- Submit all documentation through the SmartyGrants portal
- Ensure all attachments are in supported file formats
- Keep copies of all submitted materials
- Submit within three months of the damage-causing event
- Maintain records of all submission confirmations
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.
Start the application
The Boating Infrastructure Emergency Repair Pool Grants Program is a demand-driven, 'first-in, first-served' grants program that is defined in the Grant Administration Guide as applications that satisfy stated eligibility criteria are approved, up to the limit of available funding.
Transport will only consider grant applications that meet each of the following eligibility criteria:
- The project must comply with the BIERP guidelines and be consistent with the types of projects that can be funded under the program as outlined in Section Types of projects eligible for grant funding.
- The project must be located on land and waters that the applicant owns or has tenure over. Alternatively, the applicant must provide clear evidence of landowner’s support, approval or consent to carry out the proposed works at the site, such as a letter of support or formal approval for the project from landowner.
- Applicants must have and retain control and/or ownership of the infrastructure to be funded by the grant once it has been completed, and must therefore be responsible for the facility’s ongoing management and maintenance.
- Evidence must be provided of damage caused by a natural disaster or severe weather event such as a flood or bushfire, including photos before and after the event.
- Evidence must be provided of previous maintenance of the asset, such as photos, maintenance invoices, maintenance plan and audit reports.
- The request for funding must be between minimum $5,000 up to or equal to $300,000
- The estimated cost and request for funding must be supported by reasonable quotes for works or past invoices for similar works, and be relevant to the project scope and consistent with the types of work in the application form. Transport may request updated quotes as required.
- A detailed plan of works must be provided including how the applicant intends to manage risks and complete the works within the required timeframes as well as any technical drawings and specifications.
- Evidence must be provided of how betterment will be more beneficial than a repair if funding for betterment has been requested, such as the inclusion of quotes or invoices for repairs and for proposed betterment works, as well as estimates for repairs post-betterment.
- The asset must be available for use by the general boating public and must provide direct benefits to recreational boaters and the general boating public.
- A detailed plan of works includes an outline and assessment of risks, a schedule of works with details of milestones and work activities and associated costs by line item, construction methodology, drawings and layouts.
Examples which do not constitute a detailed plan of works includes but is not limited to the submission of only a list of activities or milestones, a submission of a quote that does not contain further details such as timeframes, designs or work plans, or a hand-drawn sketch.
Examples of assets not considered to be for use by the general boating public include, but is not limited to, boardwalks, the deck areas that cater for non-boating activities and structures that do not provide practical and safe public vessel access for users and passengers. Boating assets that primarily benefit a specific boating group in exchange for a fee, including membership fees, may not be considered assets that provide public boating needs or benefit.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Transport for NSW, Executive Director, NSW Maritime.
The decision maker will review the availability of grant funds and the recommendations by the Assessor before deciding to approve a grant application for funding.
Successful applicants will be notified by Transport via the SmartyGrants platform.
Notification of Outcomes:
- A Letter of Offer and Conditions of Grants document is then issued to the successful applicant for signing an agreement.
- The Conditions of Grants are counter-signed by the Executive Director, NSW Maritime, once the applicant has signed and accepted the grant within 30 days of its award.
Key Timing Elements:
- Application review: Aimed for within 10 business days of receipt.
- Applicant response to Letter of Offer: Within 30 days of award.
- Project completion: Within 12 months of grant award (extensions possible in exceptional circumstances).
- Claiming funds: Within two months of project completion.
- Final claim deadline: 30 June 2028.
- Application submission: within 3 months of the natural disaster or severe weather event.
Support and contact
For more information or to make an enquiry, contact the project team:
Email: MIDO@transport.nsw.gov.au