Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program

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Funding of up to $750,000 to support high-quality, sustainable, and inclusive development of infrastructure that encourages participation in active recreation and sport across South Australia.

Current status of program

CLOSED

To register your interest in future rounds or discuss alternative grant opportunities please contact us here.

What is the Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program?

The 2024-25 Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program (CRSFP) is an initiative by the South Australian Government aimed at enhancing access to high-quality, sustainable, and inclusive recreation and sport facilities. The program is designed to support the development of infrastructure that encourages participation in active recreation and sport across the state.

With a total budget allocation of $5.664 million, the CRSFP focuses on addressing the current and future needs of South Australian communities through the creation and upgrade of fit-for-purpose facilities.

CRSFP level of support

  • Minimum funding: Up to $100,000
  • Maximum funding: $750,000

The program is structured to provide funding across three tiers, with notional allocations set as follows:

  • Projects requesting $500,001 – $750,000: $1,500,000
  • Projects requesting $100,001 – $500,000: $3,500,000
  • Projects requesting up to $100,000: $664,000

Co-contribution requirements:

  • For projects requesting over $500,000, a minimum co-contribution of 66% is required.
  • For projects requesting $100,001 – $500,000, the minimum co-contribution is 50%. However, this can be reduced to 25% if the project involves the upgrade or construction of a trail or is located in a socio-economically disadvantaged area (SEIFA decile score of 4 or lower).
  • Projects requesting up to $100,000 require a 50% co-contribution, with the possibility of reducing it to 25% under similar circumstances.

CRSFP important dates

CRSFP objectives

The program’s objectives are to:

  • Provide inclusive and sustainable facilities that meet the needs of South Australians.
  • Develop multi-use sports hubs and recreation infrastructure that fosters physical activity and social engagement.
  • Encourage participation in sport and active recreation by offering facilities that are fit-for-purpose.

Projects and expenditure eligible for CRSFP support

Eligible projects include:

  • Upgrades to playing surfaces, including resurfacing for multi-sport use.
  • Construction or upgrade of changerooms, parent and child spaces, and official areas.
  • Improved sports and safety lighting.
  • Upgrades to aquatic facilities.
  • Water and energy saving initiatives, including installing irrigation systems, water harvesting, and solar panels.
  • Development of walking, biking, horse, or water-based trails.

Ineligible expenditures:

  • Projects related to planning and design.
  • Routine or cyclical maintenance of existing facilities.
  • Upgrade of bars, kitchens, playgrounds, or public toilet facilities.
  • Costs associated with landscaping, insurances, or car park construction.
  • Projects that have active/open grants from the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing (ORSR).

Other Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program important details that you will need to know

Eligible applicants must be:

  • Not-for-profit sporting clubs or associations incorporated under South Australian law.
  • Local councils.
  • School councils or boards of management (with a minimum of five years of user agreements with local clubs).

 

Ineligible organisations include those that have been operating for less than 12 months or are for-profit entities.

Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:

  1. Project Need (25%): Applicants must demonstrate the need for their project, showing how it addresses gaps in recreational infrastructure and benefits the community.
  2. Participation and Utilisation (25%): Projects must show how they will lead to increased participation and inclusiveness across multiple user groups and sports.
  3. Quality Infrastructure (20%): The project must improve the quality and safety of the facilities, meet Australian standards, and follow Universal Design Principles and Environmentally Sustainable Design guidelines.
  4. Strategic Justification (10%): The project should be aligned with the strategic plans of the applicant’s local council, state sporting organisations, and the ORSR’s 2021-2025 Strategic Plan.
  5. Project Delivery (20%): The applicant must demonstrate the ability to manage and finance the project, with clear evidence of cash or in-kind contributions and detailed plans for timely delivery.

 

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.
  • Demonstrate a strong alignment with the fund’s objectives.
  • Provide complete information requirements.

 

Applicants must prepare the following documentation and attachments to ensure their application is complete:

  1. Landowner consent: If the project is on land not owned by the applicant, proof of permission from the landowner is required.
  2. Financial statements: The most recent Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet) and Statement of Financial Performance (Income and Expenditure Statement) covering a period of at least 12 months. These must be either:
    • Audited,
    • Certified (signed by the club Treasurer), or
    • Electronically certified by an authorised member of the organisation.
  3. Quotes: Detailed and itemised quotes for the major costs of the project.
  4. Photographs: Current photographs and evidence showcasing the current state of the facility that requires development or upgrade.
  5. Major funding contributions evidence: For example, local council minutes, CEO letters, or club bank statements confirming contributions from project partners.
  6. Plans: Infrastructure plans, aerial imagery, or specific technical plans (e.g., lighting charts showing lux levels).
  7. State Sporting Organisation (SSO) and Local Council Support Forms: Letters of support from relevant organisations (e.g., local council or state sporting organisations) that show their endorsement of the project.
  8. In-kind contributions: A breakdown of voluntary labour and in-kind materials that will be provided for the project, if applicable.
  9. Letters of support: From organisations or stakeholders indicating how they will support and/or benefit from the proposed project.
  10. Project management plan: A detailed plan showing how the project will be managed, including timelines and key milestones, if applicable.
  11. Strategic documents: Any relevant sections of local council reports, strategic plans, or community consultation documents that support the need for the project.

 

Make sure these documents are recent, as attachments dated or signed over six months ago may not be considered favourably during assessment.

Applications must be submitted via the SmartyGrants portal.

Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.

CRSFP resources

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