Growing Suburbs Fund

The 2023-24 Growing Suburbs Fund (GSF) is a contribution by the Victorian Government towards critical local community infrastructure needs for our fast-growing outer suburbs within the 10 interface councils.

The GSF is a response to the pressures being experienced by growing communities through fast-tracking high priority local infrastructure projects. These projects contribute to more resilient and liveable communities and improved capacity for councils to respond to changing community needs and demands.

The 2023-24 Growing Suburbs Fund (GSF) is a $10 million funding round towards critical local community infrastructure needs within the 10 interface councils.

Interface councils are located on the fringe of metropolitan Melbourne, marking the interface between the ‘city’ and ‘country.’ Interface councils also play a critical role in supporting Victoria’s population growth and economy. For over two decades, population growth in these areas has exceeded the State’s average, and this trend is expected to continue.

The GSF will contribute to meeting critical local infrastructure needs for communities in our changing and fast-growing outer suburbs.

Grants will be targeted towards high priority community infrastructure projects that:

• increase social and economic participation in Melbourne’s fast growing outer suburbs
• meet the health and wellbeing needs of people in fast growing outer suburbs
• increase local economic activity
• improve capacity for councils to respond to changing community needs and demands
• deliver integrated or multi-purpose community infrastructure
• create a safe and engaging environment for disadvantaged community members
• progress key priorities of the Victorian Closing the Gap implementation plan by delivering important cultural community infrastructure, and further enhancing the partnership between government sectors, First Nations community-controlled organisations, and the wider community
• demonstrate consistency with State Government climate change policies, environmentally sustainable design, and universal design principles
• deliver the Government’s 20-minute neighbourhood principles via a partnership approach similar to that adopted in the Creating a More Liveable Melbourne report.

The GSF will support projects that have a direct benefit to communities and surrounding catchment areas across the following infrastructure categories:

• multi-purpose or integrated community facilities
• placemaking, civic amenity, and open spaces
• purpose-built facilities that respond to the needs of First Nations communities
• early education, libraries, learning and training facilities that have dedicated community spaces and facilitate multiuse purposes
• sport, recreation, and leisure facilities that have dedicated community space and support multiuse purposes.

In addition, the program will consider proposals put forward by eligible councils for funding in partnership with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, and not-for-profit or private sector organisations. These proposals must:

• align to the program criteria
• demonstrate the existing partnerships between the sectors, and endorsement of the project evidenced by letters of support from both council and the organisation.

The 2023-24 Growing Suburbs Fund is open to Melbourne’s interface councils.

Applications for funding are invited from the 10 eligible interface councils:

• Cardinia Shire Council
• Casey City Council
• Hume City Council
• Melton City Council
• Mitchell Shire Council
• Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
• Nillumbik Shire Council
• Whittlesea City Council
• Wyndham City Council
• Yarra Ranges Council.

While only interface councils can apply for funding, First Nations community-controlled organisations, and not-for-profit or private sector organisations are encouraged to partner with these councils to put forward proposals for the 2023-24 GSF.

Projects must be situated in areas zoned for growth in interface councils.

There is no limit to the number of applications that a council can submit for consideration. However, there is a limit on the maximum grant amount of $2 million that can be requested for each application. No more than 20 per cent of the total pool of funding available to councils will be allocated to a single council.

Applicants are required to make cash contributions of at least a 1:1 ratio of grant funding.

Projects are required to commence construction within 18 months of the grant being announced and be completed within 24 months of the commencement of construction.

The 2023-24 Growing Suburbs Fund is not available for the following activities and/or situations:

• projects that have already commenced construction (including but not limited to site clearing, earthworks, building works and any form of early works)
• land that is not appropriately zoned for the proposed activity and may be subject to a planning scheme amendment
• projects that are sporting pavilions that cannot demonstrate a dedicated community use space(s) to host community activities for groups other than the resident sporting clubs
• projects that are delivering new or upgraded sports fields or sports courts
• projects located on land that is in the process of or yet to be acquired
• infrastructure that is fully scoped and funded through a development contribution plan, Infrastructure Contributions Plan or infrastructure which is subject to a Section 173 agreement unless it can be clearly demonstrated that the program funds will bring forward delivery, or that the actual costs of delivering the infrastructure materially exceed the total of developer and Council contributions
• temporary buildings or improvements undertaken prior the delivery of a future and permanent facility
• routine or ongoing maintenance activities, cosmetic works, repair of facilities damaged by vandalism, fire or other natural disasters where the damage should be covered by insurance
• recurrent operating costs, including utilities and staffing resources
• projects that only involve civil works such as roads and associated footpaths, drainage, waste, resurfacing, carparks, and public transport infrastructure
• construction of infrastructure that does not have a direct community benefit or address an identified community need
• service connections (while these elements will form part of construction, council contributions should be used for these purposes)
• bundling of small projects into a larger project for submission
• project proposals that have not clearly identified the scope and parameters of the project to be delivered.

The Office for Suburban Development uses an online grants portal for applications and grant agreement reporting.

We strongly recommend that you create generic login credentials (that is, not directed to a specific person) for your organisation to access the portal. This will allow you to share access to the portal across your organisation to review and approve relevant documentation throughout the project lifecycle.

To apply, please visit the Business Victoria Grants Portal.

For support, please contact the Revitalisation and Growth Programs team within the Office for Suburban Development at revitalisation.programs@ecodev.vic.gov.au