2026-27 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General questions

Who is eligible to apply to the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSIF)?

Only Victorian Local Government Authorities (LGAs) and Alpine Resorts Victoria (ARV) are eligible to submit applications directly to Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV).

Local clubs and community organisations are encouraged to contact their local council to discuss potential projects.

What is the overall funding amount for the program?

Up to $10 million is available for funding this round.

Who should I to speak to about my application?

Applicants must discuss project ideas with their SRV representative/s prior to applying. Applicants will be provided with:

high-level design advice including alignment with relevant sporting guidelines
guidance on the development of proposals that have merit, that align with fund objectives and that are ready to proceed.

Should you have questions regarding your application you may contact your local SRV contact or the Community Infrastructure Programs team via our contact form.

Can applicants re-apply for unsuccessful applications from previous funding rounds?

Yes, applications can be re-submitted however they should demonstrate consideration of all feedback from SRV. Please discuss any re-submissions with your SRV representative.

What supporting documents are required for my application?

For a list of all mandatory and desired supporting documentation for each funding stream, please refer to Section 5 of the Guidelines .

To assist with the development of your application and supporting documentation, please also refer to the Supporting Documents Checklist for the applicable stream on the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund program page. This checklist can also be submitted with your application if you wish to provide any additional comments.

Sport and Recreation Victoria reserves the right to not assess an application should insufficient information be provided, including responses to assessment criteria and mandatory supporting documentation.

If a project has a Federal funding election commitment but not yet confirmed, could a project still be successful (but contingent on the election outcome)?

Projects should be fully funded to provide certainty that they can be delivered. Evidence regarding the approval of the Federal funding and/or a Funding Agreement should be provided with the application.

Is it possible to apply for bundled/multiple site projects?

No, each project will require a separate application for different sites. Bundled or multiple site projects will not be eligible under the Fund. However, projects with multiple elements at one site/facility will be eligible and accepted (e.g. 2 scoreboards at one reserve; lighting to 2 ovals at one precinct).

Is it possible to apply for multiple grants for one site?

Yes, however it is unlikely to result in multiple grants being awarded due to the competitive nature of the Fund and a desire to distribute funding across geographical areas where appropriate.

Is it possible to submit the same project to other Victorian State Government funding programs at the same time?

No, applications will not be considered where the same project scope has been funded by other Victorian Government programs or is included in current applications to other Victorian Government programs. Where other confirmed Victorian Government funding is included as part of a larger project it must be for different and separately identifiable scope elements (for example, different areas in a pavilion).

Can there be multiple applications across streams? For example, a $500,000 community facilities application and a $40,000 planning application.

Yes, applicants are eligible to submit applications to every stream. Applications should adhere to the funding caps applicable for each stream.

Are like-for-like projects eligible for funding?

The replacement of like-for-like surfaces (for example, synthetic surface replaced by a similar synthetic surface) will not be funded unless:

additional uses are confirmed through new multi-use or shared facilities (for example, adding netball to existing tennis courts).
exceptional circumstances exist where participation will not continue due to the failure of non-surface infrastructure such as sub-base or ground conditions. Applications seeking to demonstrate exceptional circumstances must provide a condition audit or technical evidence, either of which need to be prepared by a qualified independent expert, demonstrating that the surface is unplayable. Condition reports from club members or SSAs will not be accepted.

Facility operators and owners should be provisioning for replacement of playing surfaces as part of an asset replacement plan.

Is a planning permit required to be completed prior to the submission of an application?

No, a planning permit is not required prior to the submission of your application. However, timelines should be indicated and taken into consideration as part of your Project Management Framework.

Given the guidelines do not permit funding of projects in retrospect, could applicants initiate the tender process for the project but withhold award of contract until a funding agreement was executed?

Yes, applicants may initiate a tender process prior to executing a Grant Agreement. However, this would be at the applicant's risk as there is no guarantee of funding.

Does an application submitted to the planning stream impact the assessment for any other applications submitted under infrastructure streams?

No, each application is assessed on its own merit.

Will applications where the project beneficiary receives revenue directly from Electronic Gaming Machines be considered a lower priority?

No, applications where the project beneficiary receives revenue directly from Electronic Gaming Machines will not be eligible under the 2026-27 LSIF.

What are the Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) requirements with each stream?

It is mandatory for both the community facilities and lighting stream that the CHMP tool is completed to determine if a CHMP Plan is required for the project.

Should a CHMP be required it’s important that the application acknowledge this and detail how this requirement will be achieved and undertaken including allocating budget towards this component and appropriate timeframes.

In the planning stream the completion of the CHMP tool is marked as Mandatory if applicable. Consider this mandatory for facility planning but not required for municipal planning.

It’s important to note that for facility planning applications, the grant cannot be used to develop a cultural heritage management plan.

Will previous unsuccessful applications be considered?

Yes, applications can be re-submitted. Resubmitted applications should demonstrate consideration of all feedback from previous submission. Always best to discuss any re-submissions with your SRV representative to get further advice on how the application could have been improved.

I would like to know more about active recreation lighting.

We have a guide on the LSIF web page called “Lighting Outdoor Sports Facilities for Active Recreation – Implementation Guide”, this is also linked in the program guidelines.

What are the focus areas of funding?

Priority will be given to projects that:

Provide the strongest participation outcomes, including supporting existing participation, for groups that participate less in community sport and active recreation

Priority will be given to sports lighting applications that also provide a confirmed active recreation benefit through improved facility availability, scheduling, public access, and policy development

Support communities experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage areas or those that have been impacted by natural disaster,

Demonstrate multi-use, shared and integrated facilities.

Do you have any calculation tips or guidance for economic boost and job numbers?

REMPLAN is a common tool utilised by local councils to demonstrate economic boost and estimate job numbers.

We also advise that you consult with your economic team at council, consider job information collected from previous projects, consider whether the facility can be used for different types of community events that generate economic activity and if any ongoing jobs will be supported as a result of the project.

If consultation was undertaken 6 years ago for a master plan, and funding is being sought to deliver a component of that master plan, is the original consultation sufficient, or do we need to conduct further consultation?

Master Plan community consultations can only be drawn on as the sole evidence where the endorsed Master Plan is recent (within the last 3 years). Where this is the case the endorsed Master Plan report should specifically demonstrate that wider community consultation has occurred about the proposed facility/infrastructure that is subject of the application.

Evidence of community consultation must be provided where there is any potential impact of the proposed project on residential or community amenity. Evidence must include:

How the community has been consulted/informed about the proposed project (i.e. on-site consultation, letter box drop, social media posts)
Community consultation findings and outcomes of any formal engagement (i.e. community consultation, report, recent master plan, Council report).

Some projects have no potential amenity impact on neighbouring residents, or users of an existing public space, or no impact that could be reasonably expected. These include projects such as a changeroom refurbishment.

We have a community consultation guide on our website if you would like more information on this, but always free to contact your SRV representative to discuss specific examples.

If we are making a resubmission, can we use the community engagement from the previous submission or do we need to undertake this again?

If the project is a recent resubmission, the existing consultation would be acceptable provided there is no change to the project – such as the scope.

If, however more time has passed, the application would benefit from recent consultation having been completed.

Is there a checklist for planning/master planning applications?

Please refer to ‘Section 5. Supporting Documentation’ within the guidelines for a checklist of supporting documentation.

Will you consider applications of the same scope to other Victorian Government programs?

Applications will not be considered where the same project scope has been funded by other Victorian Government programs or is included in current applications to other Victorian Government programs. Where other confirmed Victorian Government funding is included as part of a larger project it must be for different and separately identifiable scope elements (for example, different areas in a pavilion).

Regarding CHMPs for infrastructure projects, if one is needed but not yet undertaken for a project, will it be deemed ineligible/not shovel ready?

No, it would not deem the projects ineligible. Should a CHMP be required it’s important that the application, acknowledge this and detail how this requirement will be achieved and undertaken including allocating budget towards this component and appropriate timeframes.

Depending on the level of planning undertaken to address this, it may impact the shovel readiness of the project.

Funding Streams

Community Facilities stream

What are some examples of active recreation projects?

Active recreation projects include free and accessible infrastructure supporting increased physical activity such as:

outdoor fitness equipment
multipurpose courts principally designed for casual/informal use that are free and unlocked
walking, running and cycling paths/trails
play spaces and skate parks
multi-purpose recreation and youth spaces
inclusion of elements that create another use eg disc golf installations
BMX and pump tracks.

Some projects have combined a range of active recreation infrastructure items. Please contact your SRV representative if you have any queries regarding eligible active recreation projects.

If an LGA was looking at a refurbishment of gender inclusive changerooms within a pavilion, would this be eligible or a supported project? Or are only new/redeveloped full pavilions eligible?

A refurbishment is an eligible project. Council should ensure consultation with the sport has been undertaken to ensure the refurbishment meets the needs/standards for the sports.

Community Sports Lighting

Would replacement of metal halide lamps with LED lamps be eligible?

Yes, lamp replacement is eligible under the 2026-27 LSIF and conversion from metal halide to LED is encouraged.

Projects can contain other elements such as cross arms, lighting poles, electrical and power supply upgrades, etc. Where an applicant is proposing to retain existing light poles, a report from a suitably qualified expert, such as a structural engineer will be required (no older than 12 months old).

Please contact your SRV representative if you have any queries regarding lighting applications.

Can you clarify 'new lighting that provides capacity' versus ‘redeveloped or additional lighting’ within the guidelines. Does that mean that conversion of existing non-LED lighting to LED is eligible, retaining current/similar capacity?

A conversion from non-LED to LED lighting is acceptable providing the current lighting does not meet standards (evidenced in an audit/report of existing conditions). Upgrading lighting from non-LED to LED, purely for energy efficiency reasons, would not be eligible.

Planning

Does the Facility Planning stream include concept designs?

No, a minimum of schematic level designs must be developed through the planning project. This ensures that the project is shovel ready and supports eligibility for future infrastructure applications.

If we already have a planning grant in progress (for example, a municipal strategy), can we apply for another planning grant for another specific planning activity?

Yes, however, both would need to be distinct projects and not linked to one another. Council’s performance with previously funded projects, including the number and length of overdue milestones, is considered through the assessment process.

Further information

For further information, issues with the online application or further questions on this program, please contact your SRV representative.

Details of acknowledgement and publicity requirements for funded projects are available in the Sport and Recreation Victoria: Infrastructure Grants Acknowledgement and Publicity Guidelines.