How to Apply

Boat owners who would like improvements made to the facilities they regularly use should approach their local council which has the expertise to prepare a detailed funding assistance application.

An applicant applying for funding to assist with the construction of new boating facilities must commit to the on-going ownership and maintenance of the facility. Funding assistance is limited to 80% of the project cost, with the majority of projects only receiving 50% assistance.

Generally applications are made by councils, established community groups or statutory bodies as they have the capacity to fund the remaining cost of the project and for the on-going ownership and maintenance of the completed facility.

Eligible Boating Projects

Eligible Boating Projects are either the establishment of new or the upgrade of existing facilities and may include a boat ramp, a wharf or pontoons. A breakwater may also be funded if required as part of the project.

Key considerations are:

All applicants must contribute funds to the project
The completed project must be a public facility available to all recreational boaters
The applicant must commit to the ongoing responsibility for the facility

Not all applications will be funded.

The application must reflect strategic priorities listed in the Strategic Plan.

SABFAC has provided Guidelines for Planning, Design and Construction of Boat Launching Facilities which will assist in the preparation of applications.

SABFAC may consider granting funds to identify the most appropriate area for a facility. It will not provide funding to determine the type of facility required.

Ongoing dredging is not included

Successful applications may receive up to 80% of the total project cost. The percentage of funding will be based on its strategic importance and give consideration to Council’s need e.g. a regional council with high tourist use of boating facilities but low rate payer being allocated more than a Council that is financially more sustainable.

Who can Apply

The Fund is available for boating projects to:

Local Government
State Government departments
Community Groups
Statutory authorities responsible for recreational boating facilities

When to Apply

The funding cycle takes approximately 18 months to complete.

Submissions can be lodged via Smarty Grants from February. During that calendar year submissions are reviewed and recommendations are made to the Minister. The Minister approves submissions in December the same year. The Committee will meet the following February and if a grant offer is made and accepted funds become available in June/July.

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted through the link below:

https://dit.smartygrants.com.au/applicant/login?returnUrl=/

When applications have closed SABFAC assesses the applications and makes a recommendation to the Minister for their consideration. The Minister determines if funding is approved.

Grant Categories

There are two phases applicants may be require to complete before funding may be considered

Project Initiation and Planning (previously Stage 1)
The intention of this phase is to save proponents the time and expense of preparing a more detailed Application for Funding if the project is not deemed suitable.

It is for preliminary appraisal and endorsement of a concept proposal and may be lodged at any time.

If a total project’s cost is estimated to be more than $1million, or is deemed to be high risk, applicants must complete this phase. If the project is endorsed applicants will need to submit further details in their Application for Funds.

Please note if total project costs are more than $1m the applicant will be required to present their proposal to the Committee.

Where the total project cost is between 0.3- $1.0 million applicants may use their discretion as to whether they need to submit a Project Initiation and Planning application. Risks, project estimates and a very high level of project definition must be determined if it is intended to apply for funds.

https://dit.smartygrants.com.au/SABFACSTAGE1

Application for Funds (previously Stage 2)

Applicants will need to ensure their project is well defined and developed.

Applications for Funds may be submitted at any time.

Process

Step 1 – design standard and guidelines

Click here to access SABFAC boating facilities guidelines.

Step 2 –Access Smarty Grants to start filling out your application.

Before you start you will need to know the following:
Project Initiation and Planning – does your application

activate a boating hub
connect key boating routes
improve safety outcomes
provided economic and employment advantages
provide tourism opportunities
rationalise, maintain or upgrade an existing facility or is it new?

Application for Funding – does your application

activate a boating hub
connect key boating routes
improve safety outcomes
provide economic and employment advantages
provide tourism opportunities
increase boat usage/launchings and by how much
provide the level of service required for the facility
have community support
rationalise, maintain, or upgrade an existing facility or is it new

Your application can be saved and accessed as often as required until complete

Step 3 – Submit your application

Step 4 – Assessment process and notification of result

Project Planning and Initiation application may be assessed at any meeting. Applicants will be notified accordingly.

Following the assessment of the application, the Committee will make a recommendation to the Minister.

The Minister will consider the recommendation and make a determination.

Once the Minister has made a determination, the Committee’s Executive Officer will advise the applicant of the outcome.

Successful applicants will be offered a Grant. The Grant will be subject to the applicant’s acceptance of the conditions of the Grant. A summary of the conditions are:

A The grant must be accepted by the specified date

B No work is to commence until all necessary statutory approvals are obtained (e.g. Development Approval, Native Title, Land Agreement, etc) and the Department has been provided with a design verification certificate issued by a qualified professional engineer verifying the final design

C Quarterly reports (M, J, S and D) must be provided for the life of the project

D The project must be completed within the specified period (generally 3 years), unless approval is sort to extend the life of the project

E Upon project completion:

a construction verification certificate issued by a qualified professional engineer;
appropriate before and after photographs;
the number (and time period) of jobs generated throughout this project; and
an acquittal report, verifying that the project has been executed in accordance with the original funding submission, and the terms and conditions outlined in this document. .

F Any unspent Grant funds must be returned to the Facilities Fund

Step 5 – quarterly reporting on project status (M, J, S and D) includes milestones an achievements this quarter and expected next quarter, expenditure, key issues and risks including proposed actions to mitigate the risks, major variations and expenditure this quarter and to date.

Final step – Acquittal – proponents need to submit report at completion of project including project description, budget and expenditure and statement of completion.