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Better Open Spaces - Round 1

NSW Government

Funding amount$150,000 - $2,000,000
DeadlineCloses Mon, 31 Aug 2026
RegionNSW

Overview

Funding for eligible NSW councils to upgrade inclusive parks, swim sites and civic spaces in high-growth areas, improving access, amenity and liveability for new and growing communities.

Eligibility

Who can apply Eligible applicants are local councils in the 43 LGAs across Greater Sydney, Illawarra-Shoalhaven, the Central Coast and the Lower Hunter, and the 10 regional NSW LGAs with the highest dwelling approvals between 1 July 2024 and February 2026. See program guidelines for list of councils. Who the grant is targeted towards The program seeks to fund projects for growing metropolitan and regional communities, with a focus on people of all abilities, ages, cultures and genders who use public open space. Projects are intended to support diverse local communities by improving access, inclusion, comfort and connection in free public open spaces. Types of projects funded under this grant Eligible projects are upgrades to free, publicly accessible public open spaces, including parks and sports fields, swim sites such as waterways, beaches, riverfronts and foreshores, and public domain improvements to town squares and civic plazas. Projects may include design and construction or construction of amenities and facilities such as play spaces, walking and cycling tracks, picnic shelters, lighting, skateparks, sports courts, shade structures and trees. When the project can start and end Successful projects are expected to commence from 1 March 2027 and must be completed by 30 June 2029. For design-and-construction projects, the design component must be completed within 18 months of receipt of funding to allow adequate time for construction within the delivery period. The project should be started by 1 March 2027 and the project must be completed by 30 June 2029. What costs you can't apply for Ineligible projects include public indoor facilities such as community centres, libraries and clubs; events, marketing, branding or advertising; seawalls; carparks; road and street upgrades; synthetic sports fields; standalone active transport links that do not connect to public open space; commercial buildings or operations involving access fees; protected bushland and national parks; community gardens; maintenance of existing public open space, facilities and amenities; projects already fully funded or requiring ongoing NSW Government funding; business cases; planning and design projects; and projects involving land acquisition. Ineligible uses of grant funding include ongoing operation and maintenance costs, community consultation, legal matters, costs incurred before a funding announcement, salaries of existing staff or staff not involved in the project, administrative overheads such as office equipment, vehicles and mobile capital equipment, street furniture with advertising, standalone public artworks, and retrospective funding for project components already complete or underway. What co-contributions are required Applicants must provide a 100 per cent matched co-contribution from council. This means the council contribution must be equal to the grant amount requested and must be secure and currently available to council. A secure co-contribution means fu

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