Deadline: 12-Aug-2025
The Toowoomba Regional Council is seeking applications for its Sport and Recreation Community Grants Program to support new facilities and upgrades of facilities to benefit the community.
Priorities
- The Sport and Recreation Grant Program seeks to respond to Council’s vision, values and goals, as outlined in the Corporate Plan 2019-2024, by providing support to eligible community organisations for projects that aim to achieve one or more of the following:
- Upgrading facilities to meet standards, regulations and changing community needs and expectations.
- Promoting healthy and socially inclusive communities through investing in the development of accessible sport and recreation facilities.
- Increasing opportunities to groups with inequitable access to sport and recreation activities and infrastructure.
- Facilitating well-planned, infrastructure projects that meet community needs developed through collaborative approaches to increasing participation in sport and recreation activities.
- Encouraging sustainability in the design, development and management of sport and recreation facilities and spaces.
Funding Information
- Organisations may apply for a grant to cover between 50% to 90% of the funding gap (total project cost excluding GST less any other external grant sources) up to a maximum of $150,000. If there is no external grant source the funding gap is the total project cost.
Eligible Costs
- Types of costs considered as eligible club contributions to a project include:
- labour costs
- demolition works
- geotechnical costs
- site preparation
- earthworks
- construction works
- development/building approvals
- relevant project professional fees
- plant hire
- fit-outs
- fixed structures
- project items purchased by the organisation within the previous 12 months
Eligible Projects
- A wide range of support will be considered on its merits and community benefit, for the following:
- New facilities and upgrades to facilities.
- Assistance towards feasibility studies, needs analysis or community consultation
- Assistance towards planning, professional and application fees in preparing grant applications for larger projects.
Ineligible Projects
- Sport and recreation grants will not fund:
- programs such as coaching, professional development, training or first aid
- loan or other debt repayments
- projects already started (i.e., items purchased or construction commenced) or completed (i.e., already constructed)
- recurrent administration and running costs such as regular wages, office expenses, rent, mortgage repayments or land purchases
- equipment that has a short life or needs regular replacement
- rates, utilities, energy, insurance or regulatory expenses
- projects with a commercial purpose
- projects already funded by other Toowoomba Regional Council grant programs
- prize money, trophies, raffle prizes or fundraising
- core business projects of public and private educational institutions (primary, secondary and tertiary including Parents & Citizens and Parents & Friends Associations)
- sport and recreation events
- offset of fees and charges for Council facilities, equipment or services1
- assistance to enhance or improve an existing service or community facility.
Eligibility Criteria
- Groups and organisations that meet all of the following:
- are not-for-profit
- are an incorporated legal entity or are sponsored by an incorporated legal entity
- operate or provide services within the Toowoomba Regional area
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- have appropriate insurance and adhere to sound workplace health and safety practices
- are able to demonstrate financial viability
- have met all acquittal conditions of previous council grants
- projects outside of core business of public and private educational institutions (primary, secondary and tertiary including Parents & Citizens and Parents & Friends Associations) and demonstrates broader community benefit
- conduct activity on land owned privately and/or by the State Government providing evidence of tenure with a term outlining a minimum of 3 years is submitted.
- Organisations can apply for a Sport and Recreation Grant if:
- The organisation is an eligible community organisation or is under the auspices of
- an eligible community organisation.
- The organisation operates or provides services within the Toowoomba Regional
- Council area.
- The organisation has an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- The application is for a project that does not form part of the core business of public and private educational institutions (primary, secondary and tertiary including Parents & Citizens and Parents & Friends Associations) and demonstrates broader community benefit.
- The organisation conduct their activity on land owned privately and/or by the State Government providing they submit written evidence of tenure with a term outlining a minimum of 3 years.
Ineligibility Criteria
- The following, would not be eligible to apply;
- Individuals.
- For-profit companies, trusts and other organisations.
- Government, semi-government organisations and statutory authorities.
- Unions and student guilds.
- Research foundations.
- Professional associations.
- An organisation that has not acquitted an overdue TRC funded grant application or have previously defaulted on their conditions of funding.
- Groups and organisations that meet all of the following:
- are not-for-profit
- are an incorporated legal entity or are sponsored by an incorporated legal entity
- operate or provide services within the Toowoomba Regional area
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- have appropriate insurance and adhere to sound workplace health and safety practices
- are able to demonstrate financial viability
- have met all acquittal conditions of previous council grants
- projects outside of core business of public and private educational institutions (primary, secondary and tertiary including Parents & Citizens and Parents & Friends Associations) and demonstrates broader community benefit
- conduct activity on land owned privately and/or by the State Government providing evidence of tenure with a term outlining a minimum of 3 years is submitted.
Selection Criteria
- Applications must demonstrate:
- The organisation and project is eligible.
- The organisation and project is viable.
- Genuine need and community benefit.
- How and why the support being requested will positively impact the local community;
- Evidence of planning, consultation, and support.
- Financial need, the organisation’s contribution and support, and other funding sought (whether successful or not).
- Linkages to program objectives.
- Any regulatory requirements have been, or will be, met
For more information, visit Toowoomba Regional Council.