Apply for a major equipment grant (Category 3)

The 2023-2024 grant round is now closed.

  • The Community Capital Works Grants Program assists community groups to upgrade community and recreational facilities that are used to strengthen local community networks and support community wellbeing.
  • Improvements to facilities funded through this program should complement the Council Plan and seek to boost people’s participation and involvement in their local communities.

Aims 

  • To progressively upgrade the facilities from which community organisations provide services to the community
  • To progressively improve facilities that are the primary focus for services or programs that promote local community networks
  • To progressively improve facilities that positively contribute to community safety and the wellbeing of residents
  • To foster community ownership and management of local facilities.

Grant categories

Category 1: Community capital works grants
Category 2: Community capital works partnership grants 
Category 3: Major equipment grants

Major equipment grants (category 3)

  • Grants of up to $20,000 are available to go towards major equipment purchases that fall into one of 3 priority areas.
  • Equipment purchases are used to help maintain sporting grounds, outer grounds or large internal areas.
  • Community groups must provide dollar-for-dollar matched funding. 

Grants will only be awarded to groups or organisations managing public facilities, on Council-owned or Crown land. 

Groups and organisations eligible for community capital works grants must:

  • be not-for-profit and managed by a volunteer board or committee of management e.g. sporting club, kinder committee, environmental group or be a Community Asset Committee established by Council, or a community Committee of Management established under the Crown Land Reserves Act 
  • be a committee established by the Council to manage a Community Asset
  • be incorporated (if required)
  • have adequate public liability insurance (if required)
  • have no outstanding grant acquittals or outstanding debts owing to Council
  • propose an initiative which will benefit the Cardinia Shire community and be located in Cardinia Shire
  • be able to supply financial statements and information as requested
  • be able to meet conditions associated with receiving the grant
  • demonstrate the proposed activity is consistent with Local, State and Federal regulations
  • be able to provide supporting data, when requested, proving that the project is adequately costed.

Organisations that use facilities managed by a committee of management or Community Assest Committee: You must get approval from the committee before you apply for the grant.

Organisations that use facilities on Crown Land: You must get approval from the relevant state government agency before you apply for the grant.

Maximum: $20,000 per project.

  • Grants will be funded on a dollar-for-dollar  matched funding basis: $1 from Council and $1 from the applicant to a maximum of $20,000.
  • The applicant’s contribution may include funds sourced from other organisations or non-Cardinia Shire Council grant programs.

All applications will be assessed against the following principles:

Priority area 1: Demonstrated need for major equipment
Priority area 2: Demonstrated need for funding assistance
Priority area 3: Ability to maintain and store the equipment

For all categories, preference will be given to projects not eligible for state, federal or other funding assistance. However, if funding will assist in securing state or federal funding then the application will be considered on merit.

  • Works proposed in facilities not owned by Council, or not managed on behalf of Council.
  • Requests for retrospective funding, where projects have started before funding approval was received.
  • Consultancy fees
  • Funding for groups and organisations with an outstanding debt to Council.

Before your community group expresses interest in this grant, please read all documents in the information pack.

Information pack

  • Community Capital Works Grants Program – program guide (which includes essential information you will need for your application including the terms and conditions)
  • Community Capital Works Grants Program policy

Download the information pack

Supporting documents pack

Information and tools to support applications.

Download the supporting documents pack

All applications are through SmartyGrants. 

Go to the Smartygrants website

All grant applications are reviewed against the priority areas by:

  • Council’s Internal Council Cross Divisional Group (ICCDG), comprised of Council staff from different areas of the organisation 
  • senior managers at Council
  • councillors. 
  • An applicant may lodge a written request to query a grants assessment and request clarification.
  • Requests must be made within 4 weeks of receiving the grant outcome notification. 
  • Requests will receive due consideration and a formal, written response will be provided. 

Contact the Connected Communities Team at CCWG@cardinia.vic.gov.au or 1300 787 624