2026-27 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSIF)

Purpose and Program Overview

The 2026-27 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSIF) is a competitive Victorian Government investment program administered by Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV). The Fund provides state investment to design, plan, construct, and upgrade community sport and active recreation infrastructure across Victoria. It is underpinned by the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions’ (DJSIR) priorities to create economic opportunity, support industry growth, and build vibrant regional and metropolitan communities.

The Fund operates across three distinct funding streams: Community Facilities, Community Sports Lighting, and Planning. It promotes collaborative partnerships between the Victorian Government, Local Government Authorities (LGAs), Alpine Resorts Victoria (ARV), sporting clubs, schools, and community organisations. Applications are accepted only from LGAs and ARV, who may partner with local organisations to advance eligible projects.

The Fund is aligned with the Active Victoria 2022–2026 strategic framework and reflects the Victorian Government’s commitment to improving health, wellbeing, social, and economic outcomes through accessible community sport and recreation infrastructure. Priority is given to projects that address participation gaps for underrepresented groups, support communities experiencing socio-economic disadvantage, and deliver multi-use, sustainable facilities.

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount: Up to $500,000 (Community Facilities), up to $250,000 (Community Sports Lighting), up to $40,000 (Planning)
• Applications opened: 28 May 2026
• Applications close: 5:00 pm, Tuesday 28 July 2026
• Outcomes announced: From October 2026
• Eligible applicants: Victorian Local Government Authorities (LGAs) and Alpine Resorts Victoria (ARV) only
• Co-contribution required: Yes — funding ratios vary by location (see Funding Scope section below)
• Location: Victoria, Australia only
• Administering body: Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV), Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR)

Priority Sectors

The Fund does not target a specific industry sector. It is directed at the community sport and active recreation infrastructure sector. Priority in assessment is given to projects that:

• Increase participation for underrepresented groups, including women and girls, First Nations people, people with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, LGBTIQA+ communities, and economically disadvantaged communities.
• Support communities in the two most disadvantaged deciles in Victoria as measured by the ABS Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (2021)
• Assist communities affected by natural disasters (drought, floods, bushfires) or experiencing significant population growth or economic challenge.
• Deliver multi-use or shared facilities, including those on school land, that ensure long-term community access.
• Demonstrate economic uplift through job creation, non-government investment, and local event attraction.

Funding Scope

The Fund is structured across three competitive streams. Each stream has its own maximum grant limit, project eligibility criteria, and co-contribution funding ratio.

Stream 1 — Community Facilities

• Maximum grant per applicant: Up to $500,000
• Unlimited applications permitted, but the total cannot exceed $500,000 per LGA/ARV.
• Eligible projects: construction or redevelopment of change rooms, pavilions, sports fields, courts, multi-sport training facilities, active recreation spaces, playspaces, skate parks, pump tracks, outdoor aquatic facilities, LED scoreboards, and related infrastructure

Stream 2 — Community Sports Lighting

• Maximum grant per applicant: Up to $250,000
• Unlimited applications permitted, but the total cannot exceed $250,000 per LGA/ARV.
• Eligible projects: installation or upgrade of LED sports lighting for fields, courts, or active recreation areas to extend facility capacity and evening usage; only LED lighting systems are eligible

Stream 3 — Planning

• Maximum grant per applicant: Up to $40,000
• One Facility Planning or one Municipal Planning application per LGA/ARV
• Eligible projects: facility planning, schematic design, quantity surveying, technical reports, master planning across three or more sites, infrastructure and participation strategies, and feasibility studies

Funding Ratios (co-contribution requirement by location):

Location SRV: Local Contribution

Metropolitan Melbourne $1: $1

Metropolitan Interface* $1.50: $1

Ballarat, Greater Bendigo, Greater Geelong $1.50: $1

Regional and Rural Victoria / ARV $3: $1

*Interface councils: Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Melton, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Wyndham, Yarra Ranges

Project timeline: Projects must be completed within 24 months of execution of the Grant Agreement. Grant Agreements are expected to be executed from October 2026, placing a nominal project completion deadline of October 2028.

Contingency: A minimum of 10% contingency on the total project cost (exclusive of GST) is required for eligibility.

Eligibility Criteria

Who can apply:

• Only Victorian Local Government Authorities (LGAs) and Alpine Resorts Victoria (ARV) are eligible to apply directly.
• An authorised representative of the LGA must submit applications.
• All Victorian LGAs must have an acceptable gender equitable access and use policy (or equivalent) in place in accordance with the Fair Access Policy Roadmap.

What makes an application eligible:

• The project scope and funding request must adhere to the relevant stream requirements
• The project must be capable of completion within 24 months of Grant Agreement execution
• The application must include all mandatory supporting documentation, submitted by 5:00 pm on 28 July 2026
• Each infrastructure project requires a separate application; bundled projects are ineligible
• Applicants must discuss potential applications with their SRV representative before submitting

Who cannot apply directly:

• Sporting clubs, associations, leagues, schools, educational institutions, not-for-profit community organisations, businesses, and individuals cannot apply directly to the Fund.
• Such entities are advised to contact their local LGA to express interest or participate as a project partner.

Co-contribution and in-kind:

• Matched funding must be confirmed consistent with the applicable funding ratio
• In-kind contributions can represent up to 50% of the local co-contribution
• Other Victorian Government funding (e.g. Growing Suburbs Fund) cannot be counted as the local contribution

Eligible Activities and Expenses

Community Facilities stream — eligible activities include:

• Construction or redevelopment of change rooms, pavilions, and sports fields
• New or upgraded sports courts and multi-sport training facilities
• Active recreation spaces, outdoor exercise equipment, and indoor recreation redevelopments
• Drainage, irrigation, and grass installations that increase carrying capacity
• Playspaces, skate parks, pump tracks, BMX tracks, and outdoor splash parks
• LED lighting as part of a larger project
• Redevelopment of outdoor aquatic facilities
• LED electronic scoreboards and fixed safety equipment (e.g. behind-goal netting, coaches’ boxes)
• Accessibility improvements for facilities used by senior Victorians

Community Sports Lighting stream — eligible activities include:

• New LED lighting for sports fields, courts, or playing areas
• Replacement of non-LED lighting with LED systems (subject to structural assessment of existing poles)
• Additional or upgraded lighting to extend facility hours and coverage
• Lighting for adjacent active recreation spaces

Planning stream — eligible activities include:

• Facility Planning: schematic designs (minimum), quantity surveying, geotechnical and other technical reports supporting project readiness
• Municipal Planning: strategic planning for specific facility types, master planning across three or more sites, participation and infrastructure strategies, and feasibility studies

Project management fees of up to 7.5% of the total project cost (exclusive of GST) may be included in applications.

Assessment Process

The Fund is competitive. Only eligible applications submitted by eligible applicants will be assessed. SRV staff assess applications against the published criteria, which are then reviewed by a Moderation Panel before recommendations are made to the Minister for Community Sport.

Assessment criteria by stream:

Community Facilities and Community Sports Lighting streams:

• Project Need and Readiness — 40%
• Project Outcomes — 40%
• Community and Stakeholder Engagement — 20%

Planning stream:

• Project Need and Readiness — 50%
• Project Outcomes — 30%
• Community and Stakeholder Engagement — 20%

Due diligence checks may also be conducted, covering an applicant’s past delivery performance, compliance with prior grant agreements, outstanding milestones, financial viability, and potential reputational risk to the State.

SRV reserves the right to negotiate a lower than requested funding amount and not to assess applications where insufficient information is provided. Funding decisions by the Minister for Community Sport are final.

Recent Program Updates

• The 2026-27 LSIF round opened on 28 May 2026, continuing the annual competitive program.
• The program guidelines have been published in full as a web page for enhanced accessibility, supplemented by downloadable PDF and Word versions.
• A Community Organisation Expression of Interest Form has been introduced to help community organisations progress project ideas through LGAs.
• The program remains aligned with the Active Victoria 2022–2026 framework and the DJSIR’s updated priorities for regional and community infrastructure.
• Results from the 2025-26 round have been published, with funded projects across Community Facilities, Community Sports Lighting, and Planning streams statewide.

Application Tips

Prospective applicants and their LGA/community partners should consider the following when preparing a submission:

• Confirm eligibility early. Only Victorian LGAs and ARV can submit applications. Community organisations must engage their local council well in advance of the 28 July 2026 deadline.
• Contact SRV before applying. LGAs and ARV are required to discuss project proposals with their SRV representative prior to submitting. This step is mandatory and provides an opportunity to confirm eligibility and receive feedback.
• Demonstrate clear participation outcomes. Applications are assessed substantially on the project’s capacity to increase participation, especially for groups that currently participate less. Applicants should provide specific, evidence-based answers to the assessment criteria.
• Align with investment priorities. Projects that serve socio-economically disadvantaged communities, women and girls, First Nations people, or communities affected by natural disasters will be prioritised in assessment.
• Prepare mandatory documentation in full. Incomplete applications risk being deemed ineligible. Key documents include the Project Management Framework, site-specific plans, project costings, evidence of co-contribution, community consultation evidence, and a Schedule of Use.
• Budget accurately and include contingency. A minimum 10% contingency on the total project cost is required. Cost estimates should be no more than six months old. For projects over $1 million, a quantity surveyor report is required.
• Each project needs its own application. Bundled or multi-site applications are ineligible. Stage-based submissions are permitted if each stage individually meets all criteria.
• Submit before the deadline. Applications and all supporting documentation must be submitted via the online portal and emailed to SRV by 5:00 pm on 28 July 2026. Late submissions will generally not be considered.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting a grant specialist like Pattens Group for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in preparing a strong, compliant, and competitive application. Contact us today and get connected with Australia’s best grant specialist, boasting over 35 years of experience in the industry and a 100% success rate.

For official guidelines, application templates, the online application portal, and further information, visit the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund page on the Sport and Recreation Victoria website and the 2026-27 Program Guidelines.