Capital Works and Facility Design Grants

Council offers two funding categories to assist community organisations to enhance, construct or develop a community facility’s inclusiveness, promote community participation and/or to improve health and well-being. The applicant must demonstrate collaboration between groups that will result in greater use of facilities by community groups.

Capital Works Partnership Grants and Recreation Facility Design Grants are designed to; improve facilities that improve access to; meeting spaces, disability access, change facilities for junior or female use,  sport surfaces, universal design principles and improved sustainability initiatives

Projects must promote; greater community access, increased participation, encourage interaction of all age groups and provide a multi-use facility for the broader community benefit and Universal Design Principles.

Capital Works Partnership Grants

Support for not-for-profit organisations based in Merri-bek to enhance, construct or develop a community facility’s inclusiveness, promote community participation and/or to improve health and well-being. Projects must promote greater community access, increased participation and encourage interaction of all age groups by providing multi-use facilities for the broader community benefit.

The applicant must contribute a minimum of 25% of total project value towards the project. The applicant must demonstrate collaboration between groups that will result in greater use of facilities by the community. Projects proposed on non-Council land will need to demonstrate a commitment and means to ensuring ongoing community access. Projects must be fully costed and include detailed plans, costing and timelines with evidence of the applicant’s capacity to deliver the project on time and within budget.

Payment of funds will be in two instalments. A full evaluation and acquittal report is required for the second instalment to be paid at the completion of the project. 

Application dates

• Next round of applications opens in August 2021.
• Project to occur 1 January - 31 December 2022.

Amounts available

Funding up to $40,000 per project.

Duration

Funding is provided for a 12-month period. Project must occur within the time frame specified for the funding round.

Application process

A detailed application process for projects include:

• A minimum of sets of full Quotes from registered bodies or relevant practitioners for the total cost of the project (Builders must be licensed as a Commercial Builder.)
• Evidence of the ability to obtain all relevant planning and building permits
• Final/approved designs and specifications
• Evidence of liaising with an approved building surveyor
• Lighting Plans (for lighting projects)
• Letters of support from organisations clearly indicating their contribution and support
• Written confirmation from all sources of funding and in-kind support
• Written in-principle approval for works from the land owners
• Evidence of the applicant’s capacity to financially contribute towards the project and;
• Evidence of the applicant’s capacity to deliver the project.

Community Grants Program guidelines (DOC 534Kb) provides further information on eligibility criteria, what will and wont be funded for this this grant category.

Recreation Facility Design Grants

Funding to support sporting clubs to produce schematic designs for the development of new, or redevelopment of existing community sport and active recreation infrastructure which will support participation in sport and/or active recreation. Priority is given to proposals that improve facilities for participants, officials and spectators which meet the principles of universal design and relevant State Sporting Association facility development guidelines. Applications are limited to community sporting organisations who have a tenancy agreement, lease or licence at a facility in Merri-bek.

Application dates

Next application period to be confirmed soon.

Amounts available

Up to $10,000 per project; one application per community sporting organisation.

Duration

Funding is provided for a 6-month period. Project must to occur between dates as specified.

Eligible Projects

Design projects that are eligible for application include:

• Pavilion developments with unisex accessible change rooms accessible/ambulant toilets, first aid room, umpires change room;
• Public toilets, kitchen, kiosk, multi-purpose community social spaces;  
• New and/or improved sports fields, cricket practice nets. sports courts and surfaces that are publicly accessible and that increase capacity or safety;
• New lighting installation - LED sports lighting that improves facility capacity and participant safety (including lux charts that are site specific for projects incorporating lighting).
• Providing improved facilities for participants and officials which meet the principles of universal design and relevant State Sporting Association facility development guidelines.
• Improving and enhancing the experience of participation in sport and recreation.

More information on the application process, assessment criteria read the Recreation Facility Design Grant Guidelines (PDF 142Kb) and the Community Grants Program Guidelines (DOC 534Kb).

How do I proceed with a project idea?

• Discuss your idea with Recreation Services Officers who will guide you on the next steps.
• Seek estimates or quotes for the entire project get an idea if the project is possible and manageable by the organisation.
• Speak to your landowner and gain in-principle permission for the works to occur.
• Seek support of other community organisations and stakeholders who will benefit from the proposal and may contribute to the costs and ongoing use of the facility.
• Requests for retrospective funding, where projects have commenced or are completed prior to submitting an application and receiving funding approval will not be funded.
• Requests that can be categorised as routine or cyclical maintenance works cannot be funded. For example, general painting, replacement of fixtures, spouting, roofing, doors.

How to apply

To apply online during opening times go to our grants website to complete and submit the application form.

Council Officers will determine the eligibility and assessment of each application based on the content of the Recreation Facility Design (PDF 142Kb) and Community Grants Program Guidelines (DOC 534Kb)..

Projects must be fully costed and include detailed plans, costing and timelines with evidence of capacity to deliver the project within time frames.

More information:

• How to apply for a community grant - for more information on the application and assessment process.
• Once you have received a grant for information about reporting and other requirements for grant recipients.