$97.3 Million

Section51 over the years has taken an approach of working quietly in the background supporting you as the wonderful council project and grants officers.  We have considerable success with grant applications, but we don’t make a lot of noise about it as our satisfaction comes from seeing you happy and the results on the ground in your LGA.  The children laughing in the playground, the actors who have a new theatre and so much more.  For those who have come to our webinar and workshops you know how proud we are of our successes with our many stories. But this time we would like to share.

In mid-2022, Liverpool City Council in Western Sydney engaged 4 different grants consulting firms to prepare 20 applications for the WestInvest Community Project Grants – Competitive Round.  Section51 prepared 8 of the 20 in an immensely short time frame. 

On the 4th February 2023 the Premier of NSW announced the results.  Liverpool City Council was successful with 3 applications from the 20 submitted, a good result considering the competition.  Section51 prepared 2 of the 3 successful applications, being Carnes Hill Aquatic and Leisure Centre and Brickmakers’ Creek Woodwood Park project.

Total that Section51 achieved in funding for Liverpool City Council with the 2 projects is $97.3 million.  

This is close to 25% of the entire announced successful funding. This is the largest single amount we have attained for a single council in one grant program.  Our plan is to do this again for many other councils.

An extract of the media release:

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Treasurer Matt Kean today announced more than $419.3 million in funding for councils, community groups and Local Aboriginal Land Councils in Campbelltown, Camden, Liverpool and Wollondilly to deliver 32 transformational infrastructure projects. More than 680 applicants submitted a WestInvest application to the value of more than $7.9 billion. The successful projects were announced after a comprehensive assessment process outlined in the WestInvest Community Project Grant Guidelines.

The projects announced today include:
$53.4 million for the Liverpool City Council to deliver the Carnes Hill Aquatic and Leisure Centre project which includes a new 50m pool and a range of aquatic, fitness and wellness activities to improve the physical, mental and social wellbeing of the community.
$43.9 million for the Liverpool City Council to deliver the Brickmakers’ Creek – Woodwood Park project which will transform an old drain into a naturalised water oasis surrounded by new trees and vegetation with a regional playground.

Councils’ great managers and project officers, Julie, Emily, Luc, Christine, Jo, the supporting recreation consultants, Warren Green (Warren Green Consulting) and David Burn (Collective Leisure) and our always wonderful partner economist Arabella (AP Sheere) all played an awesome role through the application process.

Sometimes it’s nice to share our success.

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Australian Government Grants

A wave of Australian Grants will be opening in the next 6 to 12 months, beginning in about May.  Some are open now but the big ones are on the way across Arts, Environment, Climate Change and the Regional Growth Fund, the BBRF replacement.

The Albanese Government is taking the correct approach to grants as set out in the Commonwealth Grant Guidelines, which is
2.3.   For the purposes of the CGRGs, a ‘grant’ is an arrangement for the provision of financial assistance by the Commonwealth or on behalf of the Commonwealth:
b. which is intended to help address one or more of the Australian Government’s policy outcomes while assisting the grantee achieve its objectives.

Here is a strange thing.  If the purpose of a grant is to help address one or more of the Australian Government’s policy outcomes, first you need policy.  The Albanese government knows this, and that policy needs to be evidence based.  This takes time to prepare and we know many in Canberra are working exceptionally hard to put together the policy foundation for the government.  The recently released Australia’s Cultural Policy for the next five years, Revive A Place For Every Story, A Story For Every Place, is one such policy.  As the minister said there will be significant funding in the May Budget to support this policy with grants.

Adding to the Australian Government Grants story some words from The Hon Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories:

Transcript - radio interview - ABC North & West SA, Breakfast with Tom Mann 1 Feb 2023
You know, we do a lot of investing in community infrastructure. And we've announced four new programs for communities across Australia, which includes the Growing Regions Program, the Priority Community Infrastructure Program, Investing in our Communities Program, and the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program.
I'm really looking forward to making sure those guidelines are out in our communities as soon as possible, and that we get those application processes underway because, as I said, the best ideas come from our communities and we need to empower our communities to apply for them, take part in them, and grow their own community.
Minister McBain interview - Braidwood FM with Rod McClure 6 Dec 2022
I think one of the biggest things I’ve done as Minister, I’ve met with now over 170 councils across the country. I’ve met with every Regional Development Australia Board and I’m really heavily focused on making sure that we have meaningful regional development policy going forward, and that we’re actually working together in a more joined-up approach to deliver on those place-based solutions that people are telling us about.

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Section51 Webinar and Workshop Series March/April  

Catch the wave of Australian Grants beginning in about May.  And your State Government Grants as well.  And learn how we write a grant application to achieve $97.3 million for council.

Following feedback from the first series we are changing the title of the webinar and workshop series to ‘All about Grants’.  Special thank you to Casey, Grants Officer in Bega Shire Council in NSW for the suggested new name.  If you are new to the grants world or would like to refresh and improve your grants skills, join our webinar.  If your council would like Section51 to run a face to face workshop for staff we can come to you. 

For South Australian Councils the LGAofSA is hosting a workshop in Adelaide on 3rd April 2023.

See our Workshop page or email [email protected] for details.

Come along and join in, its already a great year for grants.