The NSW Government has committed $200 million to the Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund, recognising the critical role local sport infrastructure plays in keeping communities healthy, active and connected.

Important dates

• Applications open - Monday 29 November 2021
• Applications close - 1pm, Friday 25 February 2022
• Outcomes advised - May 2022 onwards
• Funding agreements executed for successful projects - within 3 months of notification of outcomes
• Projects to be completed by 30 June 2025. Construction must commence in 2022.

Key objectives

The primary objectives of the Fund are to: 

• Increase the number and type of multi-sport facilities
• Improve the standard of existing multi-sport facilities
• Increase the utilisation of sport facilities
• Support the equitable provision of, and access to multi-sport facilities to grow sport participation for women and girls
• Provide inclusive and accessible multi-sport facilities that support sport participation for people with disability, First Nations peoples and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Secondary objectives of the Fund are to:

• Establish a diversified funding model
• Improve operational sustainability
• Promote and incorporate environmental sustainability and climate resiliency into design, construction and operation.

Funding availability

The NSW Government is allocating $100 million in 2021/2022 (Round 1).

The Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund grants are for the capital cost of the project only. Applicants are responsible for project administration costs, non-fixed or movable equipment and the ongoing operation of the facility.

The grant amount requested by an applicant must be a minimum of $1 million and cannot exceed $5 million. All applications are required to provide a minimum 50% financial co-contribution of the grant amount requested (e.g. if an applicant’s grant amount requested is $2 million, they must demonstrate at least a $1 million financial co-contribution). A Hardship Form will be available to applicants that cannot meet the requirement. The Grant Assessment Panel, at its total discretion, will decide whether a hardship application is accepted. For more information, read the guidelines.

Eligible applicants

Eligible applicants are:

• Local government authorities in New South Wales
• Regional Joint Organisations of councils, the Lord Howe Island Board and the Unincorporated Far West groups
• NSW Office of Sport recognised NSW State Sporting Organisations and State Sporting Organisations for People with Disability (including National Sporting Organisations where the state body is part of a unitary governance model)
• Incorporated, community-based, not-for-profit sporting organisations (clubs and associations whose primary purpose is to organise sporting activities/deliver sport programs)
• Organisations providing sport and recreation programs that benefit the community, such as PCYCs, YMCA and YWCA
• NSW based professional sporting organisations competing in a national or state competition
• Private enterprises (for-profit organisations).

Applications involving partnerships between groups are encouraged and will be considered favourably, for example a council or sport and a Department of Education specialist sport high school. A council may submit an application on behalf of a sporting club or association, however council will be the grant recipient and responsible for project delivery.