Surf Club Facility Program
The Surf Club Facility Program aims to assist eligible Surf Life Saving Clubs throughout NSW to develop facilities that will enable increased participation in Surf Life Saving for all people, increased facility usage, and improved safety.
Important dates
- Applications open - All Categories - Monday, 15 September 2025
- Applications close: Category 1 – 1pm, 20 October 2025
- Applications close: Category 2 and Category 3 – 1pm, 10 November 2025
- Outcomes advised: March 2026 onwards
- Funding agreements executed for successful projects – Within 6 weeks of notification
- Projects must be completed by:
- Category 1 – March 2027
- Category 2 – February 2027
- Category 3 – February 2029
Key objectives
The Program aims to assist eligible Surf Life Saving Clubs throughout NSW to create new and upgrade existing facilities that:
- Improve the quality of Surf Life Saving facilities by incorporating best practice design principles to ensure they are safe, adaptable, inclusive and accessible.
- Increase the use of Surf Life Saving facilities by community groups and/or the public
- Remove barriers to participation particularly, for women and girls, people with disability, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and LGBTQIA+ people.
- Improve the financial and/or environmental sustainability of surf clubs.
Information session
Our information session for the Surf Club Facility Program provides an explanation of the program guidelines and how to apply.
Watch the info session
Funding availability
The NSW Government has allocated up to $5,458,000 for this Program in 2025/26.
The Program aims to support applications for new and upgraded facility projects that are ready to commence. It will also support projects that are not ready to commence construction by funding design and planning packages. There is no reserved funding allocation for each funding category. Applications will be assessed on merit and recommended for funding in merit order across all categories.
There are 3 funding categories:
Category 1 is limited to:
- Projects that request grant funding between $15,000 and $100,000.
- Projects that have a single fixed price quote that is fully inclusive of all costs to deliver the project.
- Projects that can be completed by March 2027.
- Three (3) grant applications per organisation and a maximum claim of $100,000 across all applications. Successful applicants are required to accept funds via a claim of grant form within 6 weeks of notification.
Category 1 projects should:
- Submit a quote that matches the project scope and the total project cost.
- Place orders within 3 months of the notification of successful applicants.
- Be delivered/installed by a single supplier.
- Not include contingency, as these projects should have a fixed price.
- Provide a co-contribution if possible but this is not mandatory.
Category 2 is limited to:
- Projects that request grant funding up to $100,000.
- Projects that can be completed by February 2027.
- One (1) grant application per organisation. Successful applicants are required to execute a funding agreement with the office within 6 weeks of notification. Grant payments will be made in instalments following achievement of milestones.
Category 2 projects should:
- Commence within 6 months of notification of successful applicants.
- Deliver designs, reports and plans appropriate to achieve construction approval.
- Have landowner consent to develop the scope of works described in the application.
- Evidence the applicant can provide minimum of 30% of the total project cost as a co-contribution.
- Evidence the applicant can provide minimum of 20% in addition to the total project cost as a contingency for cost escalation/overruns.
Category 3 is limited to:
- Projects that request grant funding of up to $1,000,000
- Projects that can be completed by February 2029.
- Two (2) grant applications per organisation and a maximum claim of $1,000,000 across all applications. Successful applicants are required to execute a funding agreement with the office within 6 weeks of notification. Grant payments will be made in instalments following achievement of milestones.
Category 3 projects should:
- Commence within 6 months of notification of successful applicants.
- Have landowner consent to construct the scope of works described in the application.
- Have approval from the appropriate authority.
- Evidence the applicant can provide a minimum of 30% of the total project cost as a co-contribution.
- Evidence the applicant can provide a minimum of 20% in addition to the total project cost as a contingency for cost escalation/overruns.
For all funding categories:
The total project cost and your financial co-contribution should relate only to the scope of works for which you are seeking grant funding. Where your financial co-contribution exceeds the minimum requirement for your category, the project will be looked upon more favourably during the merit assessment process.
There is no reserved funding allocation for each funding category. Applications will be assessed on merit and recommended for funding in merit order across all categories.
Eligible applicants
Eligible applicants are:
- Surf Life Saving Clubs in NSW; or
- Surf Life Saving NSW Branches. Branches are able to apply for projects in line with the Program objectives for surf club related works e.g., storage sheds for emergency equipment. These applications will only be considered after all eligible applications from Surf Life Saving Clubs have been assessed and the funding has not been exhausted.
Applications involving partnerships between groups are encouraged and will be considered favourably. For example, an eligible applicant may partner with their local council or landowner, who may provide a financial co-contribution, and/or perform as the delivery team. The partner may complete portions of the application on behalf of the eligible applicant. For partnership applications, a Tripartite Funding Agreement is appropriate and can be requested via the application form.
Ineligible applicants
Ineligible applicants are any organisation types not listed in the ‘Eligible applicants’ section, and include (but are not limited to):
- Organisations not affiliated with Surf Life Saving NSW
- Individuals
- Local Government Authorities, however, where the Council will be managing the project on behalf of the applicant Surf Club, the Office of Sport will enter into a tri-partite funding agreement with the Council and successful applicant. Local Government Authorities are encouraged to contribute to projects which will be considered as part of the financial co-contribution.
- Organisations named: (i) by the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse on its list of institutions that have not joined or signified their intent not to join the Scheme; or (ii) in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that has not yet joined the National Redress Scheme.
Eligible projects
Applications must focus on the enhancement, design or construction of Surf Club facilities and should demonstrate inclusive and accessible design, maximise community participation.
Examples of eligible project types and project components include:
Category 1 - Upgrade Projects (off the shelf purchase)
- Environmental and operational sustainable initiatives that support water, energy and financial sustainability. For example, solar panels and/or batteries, rainwater tanks for reuse in toilets or LED lighting.
- Digital technology uplift projects, including installation of WIFI, keyless entry, increased automation and other innovative smart technologies that contribute to safety and/or security.
- Projects that improve the storage, security and safety capability of surf clubs for example extension or construction of board/boat storage room, bushfire protection measures on the facility, new roller or access doors.
- Projects that improve safety on the beach, for example upgrade to lifeguard surveillance capacity, nipper training or improvements to beach access for rescue and patrol vehicles.
Category 2 – Facility Design and Planning Projects
- Design and planning approval packages for the upgrade or construction of Surf Club facilities. This may include:
- Design documents (minimum schematic including block plan and floor plan), Complying Development Certificate or Development Application suite of plans and reports, Quantity Surveyor and/or technical or specialised reports (for example, Geotech, Sustainability Report).
- Business case, feasibility studies and/or development of concept options (limit of 2), engineering assessments, environmental impact assessments, Universal Design audits, community consultation and engagement plans.
Category 3 - Construction Projects
- Construction of new or upgraded amenity buildings such as kiosks, kitchens, club rooms, function rooms, unisex and universally designed change rooms, including parent and child change spaces and/or officials’ areas (this includes prefabricated modular facilities).
- Fixed and non-fixed items, rescue/safety activities etc that are part of the larger capital improvement project scope, e.g. portable storage racks for rescue boards or beach access mats for wheelchairs.
The Office has the discretion to deem projects submitted under the incorrect category ineligible.
Applicants for Category 2 and 3 projects are encouraged to use and include the cost of an external project manager which is limited to 10% of the total project cost. Note, this is not applicable where local Council will be undertaking the project on behalf of an eligible applicant, unless the Council is engaging an external contractor to deliver the project. Where the application is seeking funding for a project that is a component or stage of a larger facility upgrade/rebuild, you can reference the broader project in your project description, but the application should relate only to the project scope for which you are seeking funding. Responses throughout the application should relate only to the application’s scope of work including when defining the project scope, how the project meets the Program Objectives and the budget information (income and expenditure).
* Universal Design is about creating an inclusive society. It helps everyone navigate their environment easily and makes them feel that they belong in that place.
By requiring all Office of Sport prospective grant applicants to apply Universal Design Goals and Principles and Designing for Dignity Guidelines, the public money provided to successful organisations, will deliver the ‘best value for money’ outcomes for the community from the government via their proposals, e.g. everyone can use the infrastructure or program that the grant money is to be spent on.
Further information on Universal Design can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Ineligible project costs
Ineligible projects are any projects or project components that don’t meet the “Eligible projects” section and include but are not limited to:
- Facilities that are not used primarily for Surf Life Saving activities
- Purchase or lease of land/facility
- Projects that involve the development of private or commercial ventures unrelated to the Surf Life Saving Club facility.
- Costs associated with preparing and submitting the funding application
- Master planning across multiple facilities
- Costs associated with feasibility, design, or development stages including feasibility studies, business cases (except for Category 2)
- Projects that do not meet relevant Australian standards and construction codes
- Items that do not meet relevant Australian Standards and construction codes
- Retrospective funding, where projects have commenced construction or are completed prior to the execution of a funding agreement
- Related primarily to operational expenditure, including but not limited to insurance
- General maintenance or minor repairs required following normal wear and tear (e.g. projects where painting is the main scope)
- Repair of facilities where the damage can be covered by insurance
- Administration costs with the exception of direct external / independent project management costs for Category 2 & 3, limited to 10% of the grant amount requested
- Purchase of portable equipment including rescue and training equipment such as surf boards, IRB’s, stop watches, flagpoles etc.
- Purchase of office equipment (including computers and printers), kitchen appliances, Audio Visual equipment, furniture and furnishings unless they are included to fit out a Category 3 projects.
- Projects that have already been funded by the NSW Government unless significant new and additional scope is identified.
Please Note:
- Project budgets should not include any ineligible costs, and these will be removed by assessors if included, at the absolute discretion of the Office of Sport.
Application process
- See Eligible applicants section of these Guidelines to see which organisations can apply for funding.
- If you are not eligible, you can partner with an eligible organisation, although they will need to be the applicant organisation and submit the application.
- Before you apply, please read these guidelines and related materials to make sure you understand all relevant requirements, including whether you are eligible to apply.
- Gather your evidence including letters of support, funding commitments, development approvals/exemptions, images/plans, quotes, participation data etc.
- The Office of Sport recommends that applicants familiarise themselves with the online application form ahead of preparing the application and plan to submit ahead of the closing date to reduce the risk of missing the deadline.
- To submit a complying application all mandatory fields must be completed, and mandatory support documents should be uploaded and submitted.
- Applying for a grant is a simple process using the SmartyGrants platform.
- SmartyGrants offers a tool, SmartyFile that allows organisations to collaborate with team members, pre-fill information into forms and manage, view, search and sort submissions across multiple funders in one spot. Applicants with an ABN can use this function.
- For questions relating to the grants program or for specific assistance with the online system, email the Office of Sport Grants Unit at infrastructuregrants@sport.nsw.gov.au or call 13 13 02 during standard office hours.
- Complete your application by filling in each of the sections.
- Upload all required supporting documentation.
- Submit your application before the closing date and time.
- Projects must be submitted through the SmartyGrants website to be considered eligible.
- Successful submissions will be issued with a SmartyGrants system generated acknowledgement email containing a PDF copy of the application which will confirm the time the application was submitted.
- Late applications can only be made where an applicant has started an application in SmartyGrants prior to the closing date/time.
- If, for any reason, you cannot lodge your application on time, you must contact the Office of Sport at the earliest possible time after the closing date/time.
- A late application will only be considered where its acceptance would not compromise the integrity and competitiveness of the process. The final determination on whether a late application will be accepted will be made by the Grant Assessment Panel supported by a probity advisor.
- If any document is not available prior to the closing date/time and you would like to submit this for consideration you must contact infrastructuregrants@sport.nsw.gov.au to request late document submission and list the documents your request relates to.
- Late supporting documentation will only be accepted for applications already submitted in SmartyGrants before the closing date and time and will only be considered where its acceptance would not compromise the integrity and competitiveness of the process.
- The final determination on whether a late supporting documentation will be accepted will be made by the Grant Assessment Panel supported by a probity advisor.
Resources
- Guidelines (PDF, 1.12 MB)
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- State/National Sporting Organisation Statement of Support Form (PDF, 143.88 KB)
- Landowner Consent Form (PDF, 120.52 KB)
- Claim of Grant Form Cat 1 (PDF, 160.89 KB)
- Funding Agreement Template Cat 2&3 (PDF, 603.15 KB)
Contact us
Get in touch if you have any questions about the application process.
Past recipients
Surf Club Facility Program 2024-25 Recipients
Surf Club Facility Program 2023-24 Recipients
Surf Club Facility Program 2022-23 Recipients
Surf Club Facility Program 2021-22 Recipients