Deadline: 30-Jun-2026
The Local Heritage Conservation Fund provides support to the owners of local heritage listed places and representative buildings to maintain, preserve, restore and/or reconstruct the heritage features of their property to ensure its heritage values are retained.
The purpose of these grants is to offer funding to maintain and restore properties identified in the Planning and Design Code as local heritage listed places or representative places, ensure that conservation works are undertaken in accordance with the principles identified in the Burra Charter, and promote heritage values and local heritage.
A total funding pool of $32,000 has been allocated, with grants ranging from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000. Funding is provided on an annual basis and is divided into two main categories: conservation works and professional advice and documentation. Conservation works attract subsidies of up to 30 per cent of the total cost capped at $5,000 for works under $20,000, or 25 per cent capped at $10,000 for works costing $20,000 or more. Professional advice and documentation funding of up to $3,000 is also available, supporting expenses such as structural surveys, development approval plans, or heritage studies.
Eligible projects include re-roofing, veranda conservation, salt damp treatment, paint removal from masonry, repointing works, stonework repairs, conservation of front fences, repainting, and restoration of original doors and windows. Professional services such as structural engineer’s advice, dilapidation surveys, and documentation required for development approval may also be funded. Projects outside the city, routine maintenance, new additions, relocations, and works undertaken without council knowledge or approval are excluded from funding.
Eligibility extends to private owners and lessees of local heritage places or representative buildings that are listed in the Planning and Design Code. Applicants must consult with council staff and obtain development approval prior to commencing works, ensure works are focused on external conservation, and demonstrate that the minimum cost of works is $1,000. Retrospective funding is not available, and applicants must not have overdue grant acquittals with the City of Onkaparinga.
Assessment involves eligibility checks, officer reviews, and final approval through council’s grants policy. Applicants requesting up to $5,000 will generally receive outcomes within three to four weeks, while requests above $5,000 may take six to eight weeks. The City of Onkaparinga also supports applicants by waiving planning assessment fees for council-assessed projects, though state base lodgment fees remain payable.
Applications must be lodged online through SmartyGrants, where supporting documents such as development approvals, project descriptions, site plans, drawings, photographs, material specifications, and quotes are required. Incomplete applications will not be processed until corrected. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, assessed in the order received, and processed following development approval.
For more information, visit City of Onkaparinga.
