Grants up to $1,000,000 to support local governments and incorporated not-for-profit sport, active recreation (and racing) organisations in activated LGAs impacted by eligible disaster events.
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What is the Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant?
The Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant Program (the Program) forms part of the Sport and Recreation Community Facilities Recovery Program. It is administered by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) and delivered by the Queensland Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Program is jointly funded (50:50) by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). It provides funding to help eligible communities recover following eligible disaster events by supporting the restoration of sport, active recreation and racing facilities and equipment.
Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant level of support
- Minimum grant amount: $20,000
- Maximum grant amount: $1,000,000 per eligible project site. Funding is subject to availability and departmental discretion
The guidelines are clear that co-contribution is not stated as a required contribution (i.e., there is no mandatory cash or in-kind co-contribution specified). However, applicants must not be reimbursed twice for the same costs (e.g., via insurance or other funding sources), and costs covered by insurance are ineligible (except in limited circumstances described in the guidelines).
Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant important dates
- Applications close: 6 February 2026 (5:00pm AEST) or earlier if program funds are exhausted
- Project completion deadline: 30 June 2027
- Acquittal and final reporting due: 31 August 2027
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant objectives
The Program’s objective is to support eligible applicants to:
- clean up, repair, restore, rebuild or replace eligible sport, active recreation and racing assets that have been directly damaged by an eligible disaster event, and
- re-establish participation and activities by enabling communities to return to using their sport and recreation facilities and equipment.
Projects eligible for Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant support
To be eligible, projects must relate to assets directly damaged by an eligible event in an activated local government area (LGA), and must be focused on recovery and restoration (not general upgrades or unrelated works).
Eligible project types (what funding can be used for)
The guidelines include (but are not limited to) funding for:
- Assessment of damage and impact to sport, active recreation and racing assets (only where damage/impact is found).
- Repair and restoration works for damaged facilities and infrastructure.
- Rebuild or replacement of facilities and infrastructure where the asset is irreparable or where repair is cost prohibitive, supported by advice from a suitably qualified independent consultant.
Eligible assets and works may include items such as:
- sporting grounds/fields and surfaces
- courts and associated infrastructure
- lighting
- amenities and club facilities (e.g., clubhouses, change rooms)
- racecourse-related facilities
- pontoons and similar recreational infrastructure
- eligible equipment required to re-establish activities (where damaged and not covered by insurance)
- project delivery costs associated with eligible works (e.g., design, supervision, project management, materials, hire of plant/equipment).
The guidelines outline a range of ineligible costs. Common ineligible expenditure categories include (among others):
- works on assets/land not owned or controlled by the applicant (or where the applicant cannot demonstrate the legal right/tenure to carry out the works)
- projects that are commercial in nature
- works not directly related to the applicant’s eligible sport/active recreation/racing operations
- mitigation-only projects (i.e., works that are primarily to reduce future risk rather than restore what was damaged)
- ongoing administration, operational costs, routine maintenance, or costs not tied to direct disaster damage recovery
- travel and accommodation
- insurance excess
- costs that are covered by insurance or otherwise recoverable (including duplicate funding)
- costs incurred outside the approved project timeframes
- other exclusions as listed in the guidelines.
Other Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant support
Eligibility depends on applicant type and the damaged asset/site being in an activated LGA for the eligible disaster event.
Eligible applicants include (as described in the guidelines)
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Local governments that own/operate eligible sport and recreation assets in an activated LGA and meet the specific conditions in the guidelines (including requirements around DRFA category eligibility and insurance).
-
Incorporated not-for-profit sport, active recreation, and racing organisations (with an ABN) that:
-
- are directly impacted in an activated LGA, and
- can demonstrate appropriate tenure/legal right to undertake works at the project site (e.g., ownership or lease/permission arrangements).
The guidelines also reference certain incorporated structures (including some university-incorporated clubs) under defined circumstances.
The guidelines list ineligible applicants including (but not limited to):
- individuals
- for-profit organisations
- unincorporated organisations
- schools, TAFEs and universities (noting specific nuance around some university-incorporated clubs)
- state and federal government departments
- categories of religious organisations where sport is not the primary objective
- other applicant types listed as ineligible in the guidelines.
Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant assessment criteria
Applications are generally assessed as they are received.
What assessors consider
The guidelines indicate applications are assessed for:
1. Eligibility (mandatory)
- Applicant meets the Program’s eligible applicant requirements (including correct structure and evidence).
- The damaged asset and project site are within an activated LGA for an eligible event.
- The project is for eligible recovery works and costs.
- Insurance requirements are met (including that claimed costs are not covered by insurance, subject to the guidelines’ limited exceptions).
- Required documentation/evidence is supplied.
2. Alignment with Program objectives
-
The proposed works clearly support the recovery objective: restoring/replacing damaged facilities/equipment so that sport, active recreation, and racing activities can recommence.
3. Need and evidence
- The damage and the need for works is demonstrated with appropriate supporting evidence (photos, reports, inspections, quotes, etc.).
- Where rebuild/replace is proposed, evidence supports that the asset is irreparable or repair is cost prohibitive, including independent consultant advice.
4. Value for money / reasonable costs
- The budget is appropriate and reasonable, supported by quotes/QS estimates where required.
- The scope matches the recovery need and avoids ineligible items.
5. Deliverability
- The applicant can reasonably complete the project by the required dates.
- Procurement and project management arrangements meet requirements (e.g., independent PM for projects over $200k; tender requirements for components over $250k).
Assessment weightings / percentages: The guidelines do not specify scoring weightings or percentage allocations for assessment criteria (so none are included here).
How do I get the Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant?
Applicants must:
- Read and understand the guidelines.
- Ensure eligibility for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria will not be considered.
- Deliver the project as outlined in the application.
- Provide complete information requirements.
To be competitive and to improve your likelihood of funding, applicants should be able to clearly demonstrate the following:
- You are an eligible organisation, correctly incorporated (if required), with an ABN and compliant governance.
- Your project site is eligible, located in an activated LGA for the relevant eligible disaster event.
- Direct damage evidence: clear proof the facility/equipment was directly damaged by the eligible event (photos, inspection reports, damage assessments).
- Tenure and authority: evidence you own or control the asset, or have the legal right and permissions to undertake the works (e.g., lease, landowner consent).
- Insurance position is confirmed: documentation showing the damage is not claimable, not covered, or otherwise meets the Program’s insurance requirements (and that you are not seeking duplicate reimbursement).
- A clear recovery scope: works are genuinely about clean-up, repair, restoration, rebuild or replacement (not general upgrades, routine maintenance, or mitigation-only works).
- Robust costing: quotes and/or QS estimates that support the budget, including two quotes or QS estimate for items ≥ $10,000.
- Deliverability and compliance: you can complete the project within timeframes and meet any required procurement/project management rules (e.g., independent PM over $200k, tender process over $250k components).
- Community benefit and reinstatement of activity: a clear link between the works and getting the community back to participation in sport, active recreation or racing as soon as practicable.
Information to prepare for the Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant application
Based on the guidelines, you should plan to prepare:
- evidence of incorporation / ABN / not-for-profit status (where relevant)
- evidence the asset is within an activated LGA and relates to an eligible event
- photos of damage and, where required, inspection reports
- insurance documentation and/or claim outcomes showing what is and isn’t covered
- evidence of tenure / landowner consent / authority to undertake works
- invoices and proof of payment (if works have already been completed)
- at least two quotes or a QS estimate for each budget item ≥ $10,000
- consultant advice where rebuild/replace is proposed (irreparable/cost prohibitive assessment)
- project plan/timeline showing you can meet completion and acquittal dates.
Applying for the Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant
Applications should be submitted through the Queensland Government’s SmartyGrants online application portal (the Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games’ grants portal for this program).
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant resources
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