About the Surf Club Facility Program
The NSW Government recognises the critical role Surf Life Saving Clubs have in local communities delivering on-beach safety, training and education and keeping people active and connected. The Surf Club Facility Program (the Program) is part of the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to support the upgrade of local Surf Life Saving Clubs.
The 2025/2026 round has introduced a funding category for design and planning (pre-construction). With the introduction of this category, Surf Clubs will be supported for upgrades and construction projects from concept through the entire development and implementation phase.
Applicants that are successful with a design and planning grant under the 2025/26 Surf Club Facility Program may apply for funding in future rounds of the Program, making grants more attainable because of the readiness and strategic alignment with the key objectives of the Surf Club Facility Program.
Key objectives
The Program aims to assist eligible Surf Life Saving Clubs throughout NSW to create new and upgrade existing facilities that:
- Improve the quality of Surf Life Saving facilities by incorporating best practice design principles to ensure they are safe, adaptable, inclusive and accessible.
- Increase the use of Surf Life Saving facilities by community groups and/or the public
- Remove barriers to participation particularly, for women and girls, people with disability, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and LGBTQIA+ people.
- Improve the financial and/or environmental sustainability of surf clubs.
There are 3 separate categories for differing types of projects, each category has limits such as the amount of funding that can be requested and how many applications can be submitted.
Category 1 - Upgrade Projects (off the shelf purchase)
Category 1 is limited to:
- Projects that request grant funding between $15,000 and $100,000.
- Projects that have a single fixed price quote that is fully inclusive of all costs to deliver the project.
- Projects that can be completed by March 2027.
- Three (3) grant applications per organisation and a maximum claim of $100,000 across all applications. Successful applicants are required to accept funds via a claim of grant form within 6 weeks of notification.
Category 2 - Facility Design and Planning Projects
Category 2 is limited to:
- Projects that request grant funding up to $100,000.
- Projects that can be completed (i.e. planning and design is complete, and the project is ready for approval to commence) by February 2027.
- One (1) grant application per organisation. Successful applicants are required to execute a funding agreement with the office within 6 weeks of notification. Grant payments will be made in instalments following achievement of milestones.
Category 3 - Construction Projects
Category 3 is limited to:
- Projects that request grant funding of up to $1,000,000
- Projects that can be completed by February 2029.
- Two (2) grant applications per organisation and a maximum claim of $1,000,000 across all applications. Successful applicants are required to execute a funding agreement with the office within 6 weeks of notification. Grant payments will be made in instalments following achievement of milestones.