• $1 billion Australian Government programme

• Funding over five years for priority infrastructure

• Promoting sustainable economic development

• Addressing disadvantage to achieve growth

• Encouraging strong partnerships

NSRF Overview

NSRF Desired Outcomes

Improved level of economic activity

Increased productivity in regions

Increased employment and a more skilled workforce

Increased capacity and capability of regions to

deliver major projects and secure investment

Improved partnerships

More stable and viable communities

NSRF Applications

Round One Round Two

Applications received 405 514

Total funding requested $1.2b $1.5b

Eligible applications 272 (67%) 430 (84%)

Value (met all criteria) 162 (40%) 274 (53%)

Approved for funding 51 111 (18%*)

Total funding approved $212.2m $293.4m

• Application period = 15 Jan 2016 to 15 March 2016

• Grants are between $20,000 and $10 million

• Grants are for capital infrastructure involving the

construction of new or upgraded infrastructure

• Local Governments and Not-for-Profit organisations

are eligible to apply

• There is a partner funding requirement to increase

investment in the region

• Two applications per applicant permitted

NSRF Round Three Overview

1. The lead applicant of a consortium must make a

financial or in-kind contribution to the project

2. Considerations in funding decisions

(i) Level of funding already allocated to an applicant

in previous rounds of NSRF; and

(ii) Geographical distribution of funding in this and

previous rounds of NSRF

3. All applications will be listed on the Department’s

website following the close of the application period

Key changes for Round Three

NSRF Process Flowchart

• Guidelines published

• Submit application

• Appraisal

• Advice to Government

• Decision

• Notification

• Contract

• Delivery

• Evaluation

Application Appraisal

All applications

Eligible

Value for money

Funded

Eligible applicant (check against guidelines criteria)

Eligible project (check against guidelines criteria)

Seek $20,000 to $10 million

Have confirmed partner funding to the correct value

Provide evidence of partner funding

Will complete the NSRF funded component by

31 December 2019

Deliver an economic benefit to the region beyond the

period of construction

Submit a completed application

Eligibility Requirements

Assessment Criteria

3/7, 43%

2/7, 29%

1/7, 14%

1/7, 14%

1. Economic Growth

2. Disadvantage

3. Investment / Partnerships

4. Viable / Sustainable

Assessment Criterion 1 – 43%

The extent to which the project contributes to

economic growth in the region

Most important criterion and weighted by a factor of

three

Demonstrate the link between the project and

economic growth

Define and quantify the economic growth

Provide evidence to support all claims

Identify any social and community benefits

Assessment Criterion 2 – 29%

The extent to which the project addresses

disadvantage in a region

Quantify the disadvantage in the region and the

expected reduction in disadvantage

Demonstrate link between project and disadvantage

Support all claims with evidence

See FAQs for more information

Assessment Criterion 3 – 14%

The extent to which the project increases investment

and builds partnerships in the region

Partner contributions in addition to the mandatory

requirement are highly regarded

Number of partners

In-kind support for the project

Extent and nature of partnerships

Assessment Criterion 4 – 14%

The extent to which the project and Applicant are

viable and sustainable

The project has been scoped, costed and planned

The project is ‘Investment Ready’

Risks and mitigations are identified

The applicant has the capacity to deliver the project

The project is sustainable beyond completion

Value for Money

ValueMeet

eligibility requirements

Contributes to economic

growth

Addresses disadvantage

Viable and sustainable Builds

investment and

partnerships

Reasonable cost

Acceptable risk

Contracting

• Grant agreements are negotiated and contracted with

the grant recipient NOT with other funding partners

• Someone from the applicant organisation should be

listed as the contact officer in the application—not a

consultant or partner organisation

• Applicants are responsible for sourcing any funding

that they are contributing

Contracting (cont’d)

• Read the grant agreement (available online) to

understand the conditions under which the funding

will be awarded

• Negotiations are around the milestones, size and

timing of payments and reporting requirement—not

other terms and conditions

• Project scope and outputs contained in the

application is what will be contracted (the scope

cannot change significantly)

Preparing for Round Three

1. Seek feedback from the Department from round 2

2. Seek advice and support from within your organisation and from your RDA Committee

3. Understand the Guidelines and the Assessment Criteria

4. Link your claims to your project

5. Provide evidence to support your case

6. Make your business case clear and compelling

Key messages

• Understand the Guidelines

• Clearly and convincingly demonstrate how the project will deliver economic benefits and address disadvantage

• Define, quantify and provide evidence for your claims against the assessment criteria

• Seek advice from your RDA Committee prior to 1 March

• Value for money projects are ranked and recommended for funding—but the Ministerial Panel is the decision maker

Further information

• Guidelines, Frequently Asked Questions and GMS Portal guidance are available at www.infrastructure.gov.au/nsrf

• Questions can be emailed to nsrf@infrastructure.gov.au

• RDA Illawarra can advise on alignment with regional priorities, project development and applications www.rdaillawarra.com.au

Phone: 4227 4500