Up to $500,000 supporting Victorian communities through projects that boost participation and provide safe, accessible facilities with a focus on underrepresented groups in community sport.
On this page you will find
What is the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund?
The Local Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSIF) is a statewide competitive Victorian Government program that funds the development of high-quality, accessible community sport and active recreation infrastructure.
It supports partnerships between Local Government Authorities (LGAs), Alpine Resorts Victoria (ARV), sporting clubs and associations, schools, educational institutions, and community organisations.
The Fund aims to create equitable access to sport and recreation opportunities, particularly for individuals and communities that participate less.
Applicants can apply under the following streams:
- Community Facilities
- Community Sports Lighting
- Planning
Local Sports Infrastructure Fund level of support
Funding is available under three streams:
1. Community Facilities
- Grants up to $500,000 per LGA/ARV.
- Eligible for projects such as new/redeveloped sports fields, courts, play spaces, skate parks, aquatic upgrades, and multi-sport facilities.
2. Community Sports Lighting
- Grants up to $250,000 per LGA/ARV.
- Supports new or upgraded LED sports lighting to extend facility use.
3. Planning
- Grants up to $40,000.
- Supports facility or municipal-level planning, feasibility studies, and master planning across sites.
Co-contribution requirement (funding ratios):
- Metro Melbourne: 1:1 (equal local and state contribution).
- Metro Interface & Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong: 1.5:1 (state $1.5 for each $1 local).
- Regional & Rural Victoria / ARV: 3:1 (state $3 for each $1 local).
- In-kind contributions can cover up to 50% of the local contribution.
Local Sports Infrastructure Fund important dates
- Applications Close: 2 December 2025 (5:00 pm)
- Outcomes Announced: From April 2026
- Grant Agreements Executed: From April 2026
- Project Completion: No later than April 2028 (within 24 months of agreement).
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Local Sports Infrastructure Fund objectives
The LSIF invests in projects that:
- Boost participation opportunities, especially for underrepresented groups.
- Create equitable access for women and girls.
- Support socio-economically disadvantaged communities.
- Assist areas affected by natural disasters or population/economic pressures.
- Deliver multi-use, shared, and integrated facilities (including those on school or Crown land).
- Provide active recreation benefits (e.g. improved scheduling, public access, lighting use).
- Generate economic uplift through job creation, local events, and investment attraction.
Projects eligible for Local Sports Infrastructure Fund support
1. Community Facilities
- Pavilion developments with inclusive amenities.
- New or redeveloped sports fields, courts, and training facilities.
- Playspaces, skate parks, pump tracks, BMX tracks, and outdoor splash parks.
- Active recreation spaces such as outdoor gyms or re-purposed indoor facilities.
- Energy-efficient aquatic facility upgrades.
- Accessibility improvements for facilities used by senior Victorians.
- LED electronic scoreboards and fixed equipment (e.g. goal netting, coaches’ boxes).
2. Community Sports Lighting
- New LED sports lighting for fields and courts.
- Upgrades/replacement of non-LED lighting with LED systems.
- Additional lighting to extend capacity of facilities.
- Lighting adjacent spaces to enable active recreation.
- Applications must include lux charts and, where reusing poles, an engineer’s report confirming structural safety.
3. Planning
- Facility Planning: site-specific planning and design, including schematic designs, technical reports, and feasibility studies.
- Municipal Planning: master planning across multiple sites, or infrastructure and participation strategies for specific sports or active recreation types.
Ineligible Expenditure
The Fund will not support:
- Facilities with little/no public access.
- Facilities without a primary community sport or active recreation purpose.
- Projects not meeting sport/Australian Standards (unless exemption approved).
- Like-for-like surface replacements unless new/multi-use benefits are introduced.
- Land purchases.
- Retrospective funding (projects already started or completed).
- Temporary buildings/equipment.
- Non-LED lighting (metal halide excluded).
- Kitchen/toilet upgrades unless part of a larger eligible project.
- Operational costs, maintenance, or routine upgrades.
- Recreation/sporting equipment (except as facility fit-out).
- Projects already funded by SRV unless demonstrating substantial new uses.
- Repairs covered by insurance.
- Projects in licensed-only areas or benefitting gaming machine revenue.
- Bundled projects across multiple sites.
- Planning projects delivering only concept plans.
Other Local Sports Infrastructure Fund important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Local Sports Infrastructure Fund support
- Eligible: All Victorian LGAs and Alpine Resorts Victoria.
- Must have a gender equitable access policy under the Fair Access Policy Roadmap.
- Not eligible: Clubs, associations, schools, NFP organisations, businesses, or individuals (though they can partner with LGAs/ARV).
Local Sports Infrastructure Fund assessment criteria
Community Facilities & Sports Lighting
1. Project Need and Readiness (40%)
- Evidence of participation issues and socio-economic need.
- Scope, Universal Design, sustainable initiatives.
- Project readiness and ability to deliver in 24 months.
2. Project Outcomes (40%)
- Increased participation (esp. underrepresented groups).
- Multi-use outcomes.
- Gender equity initiatives.
3. Community & Stakeholder Engagement (20%)
- Demonstrated consultation, engagement reports, community support.
Planning
- Project Need and Readiness (50%)
- Project Outcomes (30%)
- Community & Stakeholder Engagement (20%)
How do I get the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund?
You should read and understand the guidelines.
You need to ensure you are eligible for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be considered.
Applicants must also:
- Strong alignment with the fund’s objectives and investment priorities.
- Clear evidence of community need and project readiness.
- Commitment to Universal Design and Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD).
- Increased participation opportunities, especially for groups who participate less (e.g. women and girls, Aboriginal Victorians, CALD, LGBTIQA+, people with disability, disadvantaged communities).
- Demonstrated multi-use and shared facility outcomes.
- Thorough community and stakeholder consultation, with documented feedback.
- Robust and realistic project planning, costings, and timelines (deliverable within 24 months).
- Confirmed local funding contributions (cash and/or in-kind, meeting required ratios).
- Evidence of gender equity initiatives and compliance with the Fair Access Policy Roadmap.
- Economic uplift potential — job creation, investment attraction, or local event opportunities.
Information to prepare for the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund application
Applicants should gather the following mandatory documents:
- Project Management Framework.
- Site maps and schematic plans (no hand-drawn or generic plans).
- Lighting plans and lux charts (if applicable).
- Cost estimates (quotes or quantity survey depending on project size).
- CEO letter confirming funding commitment; bank statements for partner contributions.
- Cultural Heritage Planning Tool evidence.
- In-kind contribution forms (if relevant).
- Fair Play Code forms for all tenant clubs.
- Letters of support from partners.
- Community consultation evidence (reports, feedback, master plans).
- For school land projects: Joint Use Agreement or Department of Education letter.
- For Crown land projects: letter of support from land owner.
Applying for the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund
Applications must be submitted via the Sport and Recreation Victori website.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Local Sports Infrastructure Fund resources
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