This program awards grants for community infrastructure projects that deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes while also promoting community participation, inclusion and cohesion.

Program objective

The NSW Government is investing in infrastructure projects that deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes, while also promoting community participation, inclusion and cohesion.

In 2023, the total value of the CBP program is $27.9 million. There is a maximum of $300,000 to allocate in each electorate.

The Premier’s Department manages the program on behalf of the Premier.

This program is funded and administered by Department of Communities and Justice.

Eligibility

What’s new

The CBP program has changed. Please read the CBP2023 Program Guidelines (PDF 422.4KB) carefully.

What’s new in the CBP 2023 round:

• If you apply to build, upgrade or repair facilities, where a Development Application (DA) approval is required, you must provide current, valid Notice of Determination at the time of application.
• If you apply for a project requesting $30,001 and above, you must provide quotes to verify project expenditure, which align to the information provided in your project budget. Quotes for applications that request $30,000 or less are preferred but not mandatory. Quotes provided must be current at the time of application and relevant to the project scope and location.
• You must provide a detailed and itemized project budget for the full requested amount.
• You must demonstrate value for money of your project as part of the 4 assessment criteria.
• If you do not nominate a partial funding amount in your application, you may not be awarded partial funding.
• The individual minimum asset value requirement of $5,000 has been removed.
• The 30 per cent rule for capital works projects has been removed. Previously, for capital works projects, no more than 30 per cent of the total approved funding could be used to purchase equipment. This requirement has been removed.
• Variations or changes to the project will only be approved in limited circumstances. Please ensure that your project can be delivered in scope and on time.

Who can apply

• To be eligible to apply for funding, applicants must be one of the following:
• NSW association or non-distributing co-operatives registered with NSW Fair Trading
• Local Aboriginal Land Councils or Indigenous corporations registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations
• NSW local councils and their section 355 committees operating under the Local Government Act 1993. Local councils and their section 355 committees are required to provide matched funding to the CBP grant amount awarded
• not-for-profit entities incorporated under an Act of Parliament
• trusts that are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
• public companies limited by guarantee.

To be eligible,

• the application must be submitted through the online system SmartyGrants
• applicants must have acquitted CBP2019, CBP2020 and CBP2021 projects by 27 October 2023, unless they have an active and approved extension in place to complete the project
• organizations listed on the ACNC Register must have a current and up-to-date record. Any organization that has not met ongoing obligations to the ACNC will have funding withheld if the project is successful. Any outstanding issues must be resolved before the CBP project completion deadline, or the grant offer may be withdrawn
• organizations eligible to apply for funding must apply under its own legal name and ABN (if applicable).

Examples of eligible applicants

This is not an exhaustive list of eligible applicants. It is designed to give applicants an idea of the type of applicants that are eligible to apply for CBP funding.

• Community group incorporated as a NSW Association – e.g. sporting body, multicultural group, community shed
• Community group registered as a NSW Co-operative – e.g. country club, childcare co-op, golf club
• Parents and Citizens Association (P&C Association) incorporated with the Federation of P&C Associations of NSW under the Parents & Citizens Association Act of 1976 No 50
• Aboriginal organization registered by the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) – e.g. preschool, health and welfare corporation
• Public companies limited by guarantee

Who can’t apply

Below are examples of applicants that are ineligible for CBP funding. This is not an exhaustive list of ineligible applicants. It is designed to give applicants an idea of the type of applicants that are ineligible to apply for CBP funding.

• Propriety companies and companies limited by shares
• Individuals or groups of individuals
• Unincorporated organizations
• For-profit commercial organizations
• Organizations with unacquitted CBP2019, CBP2020 or CBP2021 projects by 27 October 2023, unless they have an active and approved extension in place to complete the project
• NSW Government or Australian Government agencies and their entities (including NSW Government schools, local health districts, and public hospitals). These organizations should consider whether there is an incorporated not-for-profit body, such as a P&C Association, hospital auxiliary or incorporated entity that uses Crown Land facilities that may be eligible to apply for funding
• An eligible organization applying on 

What projects can you apply for

CBP will consider funding requests between $5,000 and $150,000 for projects in NSW involving:

• capital works including construction of new community infrastructure as well as refurbishment, repair and maintenance of existing community infrastructure.

Capital works are: improvements to the land or building, or freestanding equipment that will be fixed or installed to the land or building

• the purchase of freestanding equipment
• the purchase of vehicle(s) such as cars, buses, trucks, trailers, motorized rescue vehicles including boats and any modifications to existing vehicles
• projects that can be completed by 31 August 2025
• projects with one project location per application only
• an application involving a vehicle must be made separately to a capital works and/or equipment purchase. Your application may be deemed ineligible if you fail to do so.

Applications must include all required documentation.

Example projects

Below are examples of projects that are eligible for CBP funding. This is not an exhaustive list of eligible projects. It is designed to give applicants an idea of the type of projects that are eligible to apply for CBP funding.

• Resurfacing of sporting courts – e.g. tennis, netball and basketball court upgrades, drainage, playground equipment installation
• Installation of shade structures – e.g. covered outdoor learning area or refurbishment to courtyard to make an ‘all weather’ area (development consent or exemption may be required)
• Restoration of building – e.g. restoration of stained-glass windows, roof repair, solar panel installation (owner’s consent for Crown Land, development consent and heritage requirements may apply)
• Accessibility improvement – e.g. amenities, kerb ramp
• Kitchen upgrade – e.g. clubhouse kitchen renovation, plumbing, electrical works, purchase of appliances
• Public announcement system – e.g. purchase of sound equipment, electrical works and installation

What you can’t apply for

Below are examples of projects that are ineligible for CBP funding. This is not an exhaustive list of ineligible projects. It is designed to give applicants an idea of the type of projects that are ineligible to apply for CBP funding.

• Projects that have commenced works prior to the grant round closing date (27 October 2023)
• Projects located outside of NSW
• Projects that seek funding to:
• run workshops, training or facilitation
• stage events or exhibit displays
• undertake filming or recording
• cover operating costs or recurrent expenses such as staff costs, insurance, leases, bills, clothing, consumables and disposables
• deliver programs or services
• undertake studies or investigations
• purchase land or buildings (fixed assets)
• Projects that involve the development of private or commercial ventures, including upgrades/works in licensed areas of registered clubs such as liquor and/or gaming areas
• Projects receiving funding from other grant programs for the same scope of works
• Projects that should be funded as a core responsibility from another source, such as a local government, the NSW Government or Australian Government
• Project works or costs that have been or will be covered by insurance claims (e.g. repairs following weather events)
• Applications submitted after the application closing date
• Joint application or application submitted on behalf of an auspice organization
• Projects seeking funding exclusively for costs associated with planning, or a development consent application
• Applications without DA approval, where required
• Applications that request $30,001 or above without quotation
• Applications without a detailed and itemized project budget for full requested amount.