The Australian Government has announced that $175 million of funding will be available for strategic infrastructure projects under Round Four of the Regional Development Australia Fund.
Local governments and not-for-profit organisations with an annual income of at least $1 million (averaged over the most recent two years) are eligible to apply.
“Funding from Round Four will be provided to the highest priorities of communities, and seek to improve liveability and the sense of community,” the Federal Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government Simon Crean said.
“Regional Development Australia committees will again play a key role, identifying projects to proceed to full application. These projects will be selected because they best meet the needs of the regions, address priorities in the committee’s Regional Plans, and deliver real benefits to regional Australians.”
The Government said that strong preference would be given to projects that have partnership contributions. Preference will also be given to projects where these partner contributions include cash.
In-kind contributions will be accepted as partner contributions. Partner contributions must be ready to flow from the time that the funding agreement is signed.
The period to lodge expressions of interest for the funding is now open and will remain so until 6 December.
The full application period runs from 13 February to 11 April next year, with the successful applicants announced on 12 July 2013. The successful projects should receive the funding within six months.