Stronger Country Communities Fund – Round 5 - Frequently Asked Questions

The Stronger Country Communities Fund was established in 2017 by the NSW Government to deliver local projects that enhance the lives and wellbeing of regional communities. 

Since 2017, the fund has invested $500 million and supported more than 2,000 local projects that make regional communities even better places to call home.

The Stronger Country Communities Fund is administered by the Department of Regional NSW (DRNSW).

Round 5 is $160 million with $50 million dedicated to community groups.

Round 5 opened on 5 August 2022 and closed on 23 September 2022, 5:00 pm (AEST).

Applications will be assessed from September to November 2022.

Announcements are anticipated to be made from November 2022. Successful applicants will be notified confidentially from November 2022 or as soon as possible after a grant is approved, at the NSW Government’s discretion. Public announcement by the NSW Government may occur at any time after an applicant has been notified of a successful outcome.

Projects must commence within  6 months of the funding being announced and be completed within 3 years of the funding deed being signed.

Eligible applicants include:

• NSW regional councils, excluding Greater Sydney, Wollongong & Newcastle 
• NSW regional joint organisations of councils
• Section 355 committees of council (must apply via the relevant council)
• community organisations registered as incorporated associations
• Not-for-profit community organisations registered as public companies
• Local Aboriginal Land Councils
• Lord Howe Island Board
• Unincorporated Far West groups

Non-government and community organisations must hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Australian Company Number (ACN) or be registered with NSW Fair Trading under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 or incorporated under a Australian, state or territory Act of Parliament. Applicants must have, or be able to purchase, at least $20 million Public Liability Insurance.

Ineligible applicants include:

• individuals or groups of individuals
• unincorporated organisations
• for-profit commercial organisations
• applicants located in Greater Sydney, Wollongong or Newcastle. 

Projects must be located in one of the 93 regional NSW Local Government Areas, Lord Howe Island or the Unincorporated Far West.

No. If you wish to apply for a project across more than one Local Government Area, the project will need to be split into individual projects for each Local Government Area and submitted as separate applications. These applications will be assessed independent of applications in other Local Government Areas.

Yes. When two or more projects are related (have a similar scope of works at one or more sites) they may be bundled together. For example, lights on two or more sports fields may be packaged together in one application. You should select one primary location site in the application and specify the other proposed locations and the scope of works to be completed at each site. The minimum combined grant amount needs to be $100,000.

Yes, but each application must have a very clear and defined project description and scope of activities. Each application should be able to be easily differentiated by the community and be delivered independently of other components. 

It is possible that only some components/stages of projects will be awarded funding and the approved components/stages cannot be swapped or changed after the assessment process is finalised. 

There is a total of $160 million available in Round 5, including up to $50 million for eligible community organisations.

All eligible councils will be advised of the funding allocation amount for their Local Government Area. Eligible community groups can request the funding allocation for their Local Government by emailing sccf.enquiries@regional.nsw.gov.au

If a council submits applications seeking funding above the nominated funding allocation for their Local Government Area, the council is asked to rank projects, including joint projects (if applicable), in order of local priority. 

Decisions on how to proceed with uncommitted funding will be made by the Department of Regional NSW on a case-by-case basis at the sole discretion of the Department of Regional NSW.

For both infrastructure projects and programs, the minimum grant funding amount is $100,000 and the maximum amount is the Local Government Area total funding allocation.

For requests over $2 million, a financial co-contribution of 25 percent is required.

For any grant request of over $2 million, a financial co-contribution of 25 percent is required. The financial co-contribution may be from you or other funding sources but must be confirmed at the time of application.  

If you are seeking funding for a sports related project over $2 million, you must provide a letter of support from the relevant NSW sporting organisation.

Community amenity projects must be local projects that enhance the lives and wellbeing of regional communities. General community amenity projects must be for either:

• construction of new or upgrades to existing local community or sporting infrastructure
• capital works related to street beautification and other public places that promote the health, happiness and wellbeing of the community
• delivering programs that benefit the local community and provide public benefit
• infrastructure to assist the delivery of general community programs
• infrastructure or community projects or programs which improve and promote accessibility and inclusion.

Examples of eligible projects are available on page 14 of the Stronger Country Communities Fund Round 5 Program Guidelines (PDF 6.29MB).

Infrastructure projects relating to the provision of community services may be funded if the project has demonstrated high community support, is shown to be a considerable priority for the community and is not delivering a core government service.

Projects are ineligible if they are:

• located outside an eligible Local Government Area
• not submitted by an eligible applicant
• exclusively for planning activities (for example, master planning or heritage studies)
• located across multiple Local Government Areas boundaries 
• for the maintenance or construction of local roads or other ongoing core service infrastructure works that are the ordinary responsibility of council or other levels of government
• for the delivery of essential or core government services that should be funded from another source, such as local government, the NSW Government or the Australian Government 
• seeking retrospective funding to cover any project component that is completed before funding is contracted
• seeking grant funding for ongoing staff or operational costs beyond two years from the date of successful project announcement, or any ongoing staff or operational costs for infrastructure projects
• for a general works package without specific scope, costs and location (e.g. ‘upgrading lighting at sports ovals’ without identifying the work required, number of sites or the locations)
• exclusively for marketing, branding, advertising or product promotion - including tourism marketing
• providing direct commercial and/or exclusive private benefit to an individual or business
• not clearly providing benefits that will significantly contribute to the objectives of the Stronger Country Communities Fund Round 5
• the recipient of duplicate grant funding from another NSW or Australian Government grant program for the same project
• solely for the maintenance of any infrastructure i.e. painting or beautification repairs without upgrading the functionality of the infrastructure.

Yes. Projects that are more suitable for other NSW Government programs may be referred to those programs by the Department of Regional NSW. Applications that are referred will be subject to the full assessment criteria of the other NSW Government program to which they are referred. In this case, you may need to update your application to meet the criteria of the referred program. The referred application will not be given preferential treatment over any other application but will be considered on merit in accordance with the guidelines for that program.
 

If you are unsure if your project is eligible you can refer to examples of eligible projects on page 14 of the Program Guidelines (PDF 6.29MB). You can also email your question or be referred to your local Business Development Manager at the Department of Regional NSW by emailing sccf.enquiries@regional.nsw.gov.au

You can complete and submit an application online at https://regionaldevelopment.smartygrants.com.au/SCCF5

To apply, you will need to describe all the project elements and be able to complete the questions in the application form including: 

• a clear project scope 
• a project plan 
• a project budget based on quotes or detailed estimates, reasonable assumptions, or previous experience with similar projects
• landowner consent (hyperlink) (if applicable)
• evidence of $20 million Public Liability Insurance
• evidence of project co-contribution for projects requesting $2 million or more in funding (if applicable)
• a letter of support from the relevant NSW state sporting organisation if a sports-related project is seeking over $2 million in grant funding (if applicable)
• evidence of consultation and strong community support for the project
• information on how the project will help boost the livability of the local community and evidence of how the project will meet a community need, including who and how many people in the community will benefit, and how those benefits will be measured.

Yes. Budgets can include up to 25 percent of the total project cost for contingency. An additional 10 percent can be used for project management and administration costs. Should your project be successful, and the contingency costs included in your budget not used, this amount will be deducted from the final grant payment.

You must consult local communities to ensure submitted projects have a high level of community support. Evidence of consultation may be:

• detailed in the council’s Community Strategic Plan or other plans or processes that demonstrate how community support for projects has been captured
• recent consultation carried out as part of a planning process
• council meetings or council events
• community consultation committees or surveys
• social media interactions
• feedback via mail-outs, web forms, and or an applicant’s complaints process
• workshops or local activities
• letters of support from local MPs,community members, sporting or cultural peak bodies.

Applicants are encouraged to work with their local Members of Parliament to identify priority projects in your area.  Your application should provide evidence of community support for each proposed project, not just evidence of community consultation.

No. However, applicants are asked to rank projects, including joint projects (if applicable), in their order of local priority.

Yes. Projects can be located on private land but must not be solely for private use. The applicant will need to clearly demonstrate how the facility will be open to the community and how the project will benefit the public, or a sufficient section of the public.

An “upgrade” is a major renewal or restoration of existing infrastructure. “Major” means several activities are carried out that result in significant changes to the asset. For example, replacement of multiple components such as roofs, walls, floor coverings and external landscapes, or a simple toilet block transformed to an amenity block with accessible facilities, including change rooms. Infrastructure upgrades are eligible. 

“Maintenance” refers to routine operational activities undertaken to sustain an existing asset in a functional state. For example, painting, changing light fixtures, cleaning carpets, or testing and tagging of equipment.

Maintenance activities are not eligible on their own, however minor maintenance activities can be incorporated into a major upgrade or renewal of an existing asset. 

“Contingency” is defined as something that may or may not occur but must be dealt with if it does. They are often known unknowns. Should your project be successful, and the contingency costs included in your budget not be used, this amount will be deducted from the final grant payment.

The Stronger Country Communities Fund Round 5 assessment process involves:

• checking that the applicant is eligible to apply for funding 
• checking that projects meet the assessment criteria:
  • viability, community support and alignment with the objectives of the fund
• seeking advice from relevant NSW Government agencies (if applicable)
• an Assessment Panel, who will meet to consider suitability of projects
• the Deputy Premier will consider suitable projects for final funding decision and approval.

GST is not payable on grant payments to local councils as the payments are between government related entities. For eligible community organisations registered for GST and where it is payable, the Department of Regional NSW will pay the approved grant amount plus 10 percent of the approved funding. 

If eligible community organisations are not registered for GST, they will need to incorporate any GST paid by them to third parties into the project budget and grant amount.

Eligible project costs are costs associated with building new or upgrading existing local infrastructure and delivering programs. Ineligible project costs are listed in the Program Guidelines (PDF 6.29MB).

A project will be considered viable if it:

• has in the Department of Regional NSW’s view, a realistic budget based on substantiated quotes or detailed estimates, reasonable assumptions or previous experience with similar projects
• is cost-effective and represents value for money
• can be delivered in stages
• can be delivered within 3 years from the project funding announcement
• has estimated costs for combined project management, administration cost that does not exceed a maximum of 10 percent of the total project cost
• has estimated costs for contingencies that do not exceed a maximum of 25 percent of the total project cost
• demonstrates access to the necessary expertise and support to deliver the project
• does not require ongoing funding from the NSW Government
• demonstrates how it will be operated and/or maintained when the project is completed (where applicable).

The Department of Regional NSW (DRNSW) may seek information from relevant NSW Government departments to verify the viability of a project. DRNSW retains the discretion to disclose information to these agencies where relevant.

No. If your project receives funding elsewhere once the application period has closed, you cannot swap in another project. All projects must be submitted by the close of Round 5.

You must notify the Department of Regional NSW in writing as soon as possible if a project has secured funding elsewhere. The project will be withdrawn to avoid it being considered against other projects submitted in the same Local Government Area.

Following the assessment period, if the Local Government Area’s funding allocation has not been fully exhausted, options to utilise these funds in future rounds or for other projects will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. 

If you are seeking between $100,000 and $2 million for a project, a co-contribution is not required, and you can seek funds for the entire project cost as a grant. 

Projects requiring grant funding of more than $2 million will only be considered where the applicant co-contributes a minimum of 25 percent of the total grant amount. The financial co-contribution may be from you or other funding sources, but must be confirmed at the time of submitting your application. 

Co-contributions can come from you or other external funding sources. Co-contribution amounts must be confirmed before an application is submitted. If elements of a project have received funding from another grant, you will need to define the scope of the different elements and clearly show how the Stronger Country Communities Round 5 funding will be used.

Stronger Country Communities Fund Round 5 funding cannot be used for ordinary road maintenance. Minor road works may be considered where they are a small element of a larger project, such as works related to street beautification. Projects solely for road works are not eligible.

All recipients of NSW Government funding should acknowledge financial support received from the Stronger Country Communities Fund Round 5 as per the Funding Acknowledgement Guidelines.

Tourist signs in NSW are managed by the Tourist Attraction Signposting Assessment Committee (TASAC) through Destination NSW. Projects seeking funding for tourist attraction signposting need to follow the requirements set out by TASAC before funding can be issued under the Stronger Country Communities Fund Round 5. You do not need to have an approval for signage in place before submitting your application but will need to demonstrate permission has been granted before final milestone payments are processed. Further information about tourist signage is available at destinationnsw.com.au.

As part of the application process, you are required to identify how you will measure the expected outcomes and benefits of the project once delivered. This information will form part of the assessment process and be incorporated into your Funding Deed. For further information about reporting outcomes see the Outcomes Reporting Guidance Note at nsw.gov.au/SCCFr5

Yes. Information and resources, including relevant application templates, are available at nsw.gov.au/SCCF. A webinar will be held after applications are open and the recording placed on the webpage to help with applications. Local Business Development Managers will also be able to assist applicants to develop applications.

For further assistance, email sccf.enquiries@regional.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 679 673.

Yes. A single application can be submitted for a project that is a combination of infrastructure and programs.

All eligible councils will be advised of the funding allocation amount for their Local Government Area. Eligible community groups can request the funding allocation for their Local Government by emailing sccf.enquiries@regional.nsw.gov.au.

Only applications submitted by councils will be ranked in order of priority, this includes joint applications submitted by council on behalf of a community group. Councils do not rank projects that are submitted independently by community groups.

Yes. Projects on school grounds are eligible, however applications may be submitted by eligible community groups (such as incorporated P&C Associations) and not the school. Landowner consent is required from the school or the Department of Education.

No. The purchase of land, buildings or other spaces such as office space is not eligible. Rental costs may be eligible for the delivery of community programs.

Yes. Partner organisations and third-party services can be located outside of the local government area where the proposed project is to be located. However, the project must be delivered within the Local Government Area.

Potential outcomes of the revitalised park may be: improved satisfaction by existing users; improved accessibility for existing and new users; and increased use of the park overall and/or by a wider range of users.

Usage and satisfaction measures should be taken before and after the revitalisation project.

Consideration should be given to different groups of uses in the community, including those who have used the park before but may have been less satisfied with it, and those who may not have traditionally used the park before.

Questions we will ask grantees to report on at project completion are: 

• how many local people use the upgraded infrastructure (before and after)
• how many people from outside the LGA use the upgraded infrastructure (before and after)?
• How did the project provide equitable access for all users, patrons or and/or guests?
• evidence of community satisfaction with the amenity provided by the infrastructure.
   

Potential outcomes of the aquatic centre upgrade may be expanded range of services provided to the community; increased availability and accessibility of the pool; expanded opening hours; and increased use of the pool overall and/or by a wider range of users. 

Accessibility, range of services, usage and satisfaction measures should be taken before and after the upgrade project.

Consideration should be given to different groups of users in the community, including those who have used the pool before but may have been less satisfied with it, those who may not have traditionally used the pool before, indirect users (such as parents who may be more satisfied with the toddler pool now that it is heated), and users of different sizes, abilities and ages.

Questions we will ask grantees to report on at project completion are: 

• how many local people use the upgraded infrastructure (before and after)
• how many people from outside the LGA use the upgraded infrastructure (before and after)
• what new or expanded services are now provided to pool users?
• how satisfied are these users with the pool facility. 

Potential outcomes for streetscape beautification may include enhanced amenity for users (local community, visitors, adjoining local businesses).

Consideration should be given to different groups of users, including residents, visitors, people with special needs, and local businesses. For example, people with disabilities may require ramp access. Businesses may require access for deliveries and customer parking.

These groups may have different views on the project, which may require separate data collection and reporting.

Questions we will ask grantees to report on at project completion are: 

• what is the local population who use the street?
• how many businesses are on or near the street?
• how satisfied is the local community with the new streetscape?
• how satisfied are businesses on, or near, the street?

Potential outcomes for a playground upgrade may include increased usage and satisfaction by existing and new users.

Consideration should be given to different types of users in the community, including children of different ages and abilities, supervising parents or grandparents, and existing and new users of the playground.

Questions we will ask grantees to report on at project completion are: 

• How many people use the playground?
• How satisfied are these users with the playground?

Potential outcomes for community festivals and events may include attendance numbers (including for different groups within the community), attraction of visitors/tourists, contribution to increased spending in the LGA, and positive participant feedback and satisfaction.  

Consideration should be given to different groups of attendees.

The festival/event’s impact on the local economy should also be measured. 

• How many community festivals or events were supported that otherwise would not have been held?
• How many local people attended these events?
• How many visitors/tourists are attracted to these festivals or events?
• How satisfied are people with the festivals or events?
• How much was spent in the LGA economy as a result of these community festivals or events?
• Is suitable seating, shade and a quiet rest area available at the events?