The Sustainable Infrastructure Fund supports local governments and alpine resort management boards to use recycled materials in infrastructure projects. The fund is delivered by Sustainability Victoria, on behalf of the Victorian Government.
Status: Open
Funding available: $50,000–$300,000
Available to:
- Local government
- Alpine resort management boards
Co-contribution: $1:$1
Applications close: 3pm, 8 October 2020
The fund aims to:
- improve confidence in using products made from recycled materials
- demonstrate performance of existing products and standards
- increase the quantity of recycled products being sold in Victoria
- support organisations to try new technology and processes.
Using recycled products in infrastructure projects can:
- reduce waste to landfill
- lower greenhouse gas emissions
- prevent loss of valuable resources
- increase demand for recycled materials and products
- support local manufacturers and suppliers
- support innovative technology and processes
- support sustainable procurement objectives.
Find local suppliers and recycled products with our Buy Recycled Directory.
Eligibility
Applicants
To apply, you must use at least one of the following recycled priority materials in your project:
- glass
- paper and cardboard
- plastics
- rubber.
You must also:
- be a Victorian local government authority or an alpine resort management board
- have a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
- have project activities that take place in Victoria
- co-contribute $1:$1 (minimum)
- complete the project within 12 months of signing the funding agreement.
Projects
The funding must be used to support the construction or installation of a:
- new asset
- renewal, expansion or upgrade of existing assets.
Assets can include but are not limited to:
- bridges
- buildings
- carparks
- cycleways
- drainage fixtures
- footpaths
- furniture and fittings for parks, open spaces and streetscapes
- roads.
Stages or components of projects that are currently underway are eligible, as long as the infrastructure hasn’t been constructed before signing the funding agreement.
Application process
- Make sure your organisation and project is eligible.
- Read and accept the funding terms and conditions:
- Read the Terms of Participation in Grant Programs
- To apply you’ll need to register an account with Smarty Grants. Once you’re logged in, click on Sustainable Infrastructure Fund to apply.
You’ll be notified of the outcome within approximately 60 calendar days.
Further details
We have responded to specific questions not addressed on this page or in the guidelines. The list of responses will be updated as required.
Timeline
Timeline dates are subject to change.
Applications open: 13 August 2020
Applications close: 3pm, 8 October 2020
Notification of outcome: Within 60 calendar days
Funded project completion: 12 months after signing the funding agreement
Round 2 applications open: 26 October 2020
Round 2 applications close: 7 December 2020
Round 3 applications open: 18 January 2021
Round 3 applications close: 1 March 2021
Background
Why are we providing this funding?
The Victorian Government is committed to transform recycling in Victoria with the 10-year plan Recycling Victoria.
The plan supports the transition to a circular economy. To enable this, there needs to be strong markets for the materials collected and recovered.
Victorian local governments are estimated to spend over $8 billion on infrastructure projects over the next three years, which presents a significant opportunity to increase use of recovered materials.
Victorian councils are responsible for more than $110 billion in community infrastructure and assets such as roads, bridges, town halls, recreation and leisure facilities, drains, libraries and parks.
Local governments are facing the following barriers when considering using recycled materials:
- limited understanding on the performance of products using recycled content
- time, money and staff resource required to find out about products and to trial them
- limited awareness of available recycled materials, their applications and durability
- low value materials competing with conventional materials
- procurement policies and processes.
The Sustainable Infrastructure Fund aims to overcome some of these barriers by:
- providing financial support to use products that meet existing standards and specifications
- covering the cost gap of using a product with recycled content versus a product with virgin materials
- increasing knowledge on products and materials successfully used in this program.
The fund also aligns with the Victorian Government’s response to current issues in the recycling sector outlined in the Recycling Industry Strategic Plan.
The plan highlights the need for government to:
- stimulate markets for the use of recovered resources
- increase jobs
- develop quality products for end markets
- increase investment and procurement of products made from recycled priority materials.
How we’re supporting innovation and improving market confidence
We support research and the development of new products made from recycled materials through our Research, Development and Demonstration program.
The program supports businesses or government to partner with research institutes to develop and create products that will improve:
- market confidence
- demand for recycled materials and products.
We provided $100,000 to support the trial of using recycled soft plastics, glass and toner cartridges in an asphalt road. This trial successfully launched a new product which is now fully commercialised and supplied across Australia.
So far in Victoria, seven local governments have used this product in their infrastructure projects.
Read more about this recycled material asphalt project.
Our long-term vision
We’re guided by the Statewide Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan (SWIRRP).
The plan provides the context and long-term vision for improving Victoria’s waste and resource recovery infrastructure system. Stimulating and supporting markets for products made from recovered resources is critical to achieving this vision.