FAQs - Victoria’s Big Build

Frequently asked questions

What is the Suburban Rail Loop Community Projects Fund?

The Community Projects Fund is dedicated to supporting local initiatives and projects along the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East alignment, from Cheltenham to Box Hill. The fund aims to deliver lasting benefit to communities well before SRL East trains are running in 2035.

Eligible initiatives include:

upgrades to sports facilities and procurement of equipment
arts and culture programs
health and wellbeing initiatives
community events
development of community gardens
other projects fostering community engagement and cohesion.

Multiple funding rounds will be conducted throughout the construction of SRL East. Priority will be given to those most impacted by construction activities.

The fund is managed by Suburban Rail Loop Authority, part of Victoria’s Big Build on behalf of the Victorian Government.

How much funding is available?

Community Support Grants ranging from $10,000 and $80,000 are available to community groups, not-for-profits, sporting clubs and schools for projects and initiatives that benefit the local community.

When do applications open?

Applications open 9.00am 15 September 2025 and close at 4.00pm 24 October 2025.

Organisations can find out more about the funding program and how to apply here.

Application period	Monday 15 September 2025 to Friday 24 October 2025
Free online grant writing workshops	Tuesday 23rd September from 6pm to 8pm Thursday 25th September from 10am to 12pm Thursday 2nd October from 6pm to 8pm Thursday 9th October from 10am to12pm
Assessment period	December 2025
Awarding of grants (project announced)	Late January 2026

Applying for the fund

Who can apply?

Applicants must:

Be an incorporated not-for-profit organisation or community group or be sponsored (auspiced) by an incorporated not-for-profit organisation
Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and provide an incorporation number
Hold current public liability insurance
Provide evidence of in-principle support from relevant stakeholders, authorities or landholders that may be impacted by the proposed project (permissions will be formally sought for successful grants where relevant following the assessment process)
Have acquitted and satisfactorily met the requirements of any previous funding arrangements with SRLA.
Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations may include but are not limited to:
Charities and trusts registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
Australian public companies, such as companies limited by guarantee and/or shares (non-distribution of profits or dividends)
Cooperatives
Not-for-profit associations
Registered Australian bodies
Aboriginal community controlled organisations
Gathering places
Organisations established under an Act of Parliament including schools

How do I apply?

Applications are made online via SmartyGrants SRL East CPF Community Support Grants

Please note applications must:

be submitted by an individual with authority to do so on behalf of their group/ organisation
use the SRL Community Projects Fund grant application form
be for only one proposed project
be complete, as incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applications must be lodged by the closing date 4pm Friday 24 October 2025. For more information on applying, please view the SRL Community Projects Fund guidelines.

General information on applying for grants

SmartyGrants also has documentation to support grant applicants in completing and submitting application forms. The ‘Help Guide for Applicants’ can be found Help Guide for Applicants (smartygrants.com.au)

What information will I need to provide in my organisation's application?

A list of information which will be required to complete your application can be found in the Community Projects Fund Program Guidelines.

Where can I get help with my application?

Free online grant writing workshops will assist participants to develop and write their application. The workshop will focus on specific questions in the application form including the project description, budget, project plan and evaluation.

There are limited spaces, so booking is essential.

If you have questions about Community Support Grants or need assistance applying, please contact 1800 105 105 or email communityfund@srla.vic.gov.au with your questions.

If you require an interpreter, please call (03) 9209 0147.

What locations are eligible for funding?

The address of where the project or activity is proposed to be delivered should be included in the application. This may be different to your organisation’s address.

Applications that deliver clear benefits to SRL East precincts (within 1600m of an SRL station), or in the vicinity of other SRL East surface infrastructure, will be considered favourably.

Consideration will also be given to projects delivered outside the boundary of 1600m if applicants can clearly demonstrate that the project benefits community members that live and work in the nominated SRL precinct. For example, a sporting club may be located outside the precinct boundaries but can demonstrate that the majority of the club members live or work within the Precinct.

What is a SRL East precinct?

A SRL East precinct is a radius of 1600m of a proposed SRL station. To view the SRL East precincts, search the interactive map.

What is a SRL East surface infrastructure?

SRL East surface infrastructure refers to the:

Train stabling facility in Heatherton
Emergency support facility on High Street Road between Kiers Avenue and Elm Grove in Mount Waverley.

Our programs are spread across Melbourne; can we still apply for funding?

The SRL Community Projects Fund will only support activities and initiatives conducted within eligible locations.

Where an organisation conducts activities across a greater geographical area, funding will only be granted to support activities and initiatives that clearly demonstrate the benefit local communities along SRL East alignment.

We are a for-profit organisation that spport many community events/programs, can we apply for funding?

As a for-profit organisation, you are not eligible to apply for funding. You may wish to consider teaming up with a not-for-profit organisation using an Auspice arrangement.

Auspice arrangements

If your group is not incorporated or does not hold current public and products liability insurance, you may still apply through an auspice organisation. An auspice organisation is an organisation that manages the grant funding on your behalf and is obligated to ensure that the funding is expanded within the requirements of the application and funding agreement.

Evidence of the agreement between the two parties to undertake this auspice arrangement must be included with the application, as must all the necessary paperwork to prove insurance, incorporation and ABN status. The auspice organisation receives all the grant payments.

For more information please refer to the Auspice factsheet.

What if my project or event is planned or scheduled to run before I receive funding?

Projects that have already commenced before the successful grants are announced are ineligible.

What sort of projects are eligible for funding?

SRL Community Support Grants are for community-led projects. Proposed projects should support, strengthen and enhance healthy, safe and sustainable local communities and places in SRL East precincts.

Examples of the types of projects that may be eligible are:

Support for community events and festivals
Upgrades to local community assets such as neighbourhood houses
Resources for a local library
Projects and events that celebrate local heritage, history or diversity
Tree plantings at a local reserve
Sporting club upgrades or equipment
Gardening equipment for a community garden
Initiatives for boorai, bubup, youth, women, men or elders.

For more information, please read the SRL Community Projects Fund guidelines

How will applications be assessed?

Applications for a SRL Community Projects Fund grant will be assessed by a senior panel convened by the Suburban Rail Loop Authority and any relevant state government departments or councils as required.

An independent probity advisor will oversee the assessment process.

Can I put in more than one application?

Only one application can be submitted per eligible project, but an organisation can apply for more than one project if they wish.

How much funding should applicants contribute

Co-contributions such as cash or in-kind are not mandatory but will be considered favourably during the assessment.

Can applicants include the value of an in-kind contribution?

In-kind contributions such as donated goods, services or volunteer work can be included in your application.

More information about in-kind contributions and how to calculate the value can be found here.

Assessment criteria

All eligible applications will be assessed on merit against the following assessment criteria:

Project concept (30% of overall score) - Demonstrate that the project is feasible and be delivered within 12 months of funding.
Community benefit and impact (40% of overall score) - Demonstrate alignment with at least one of the grant priorities and meets and existing or anticipated community need.
Budget (20% of overall score) - Clear costings for all assets, goods and services to be purchased and demonstrates a well-researched and realistic budget that represents value for money.
Organisation’s capacity (10% of overall score) - Demonstrate that the organisation has the capacity to deliver the initiative on time and within budget.

Projects are required to be to be completed within 12 months of funding being announced.

Project benefits

The application will ask applicants to identify the community need they are intending to address, the outcomes they believe will be achieved, and how those outcomes will be measured.

How can I find out about past successful recipients?

More than 75 projects and initiatives have been funded to date through Round 1 Community Support Grants, including play equipment for toy libraries, community celebration days and upgrades of shared outdoor spaces.

Read more about some of our fund recipients and the projects they delivered to make a difference to local communities.

Using the fund

What information will be collected regarding the expenditure of the funds?

A project evaluation and final completion report (acquittal report) must be provided at the conclusion of activities, along with copies of all invoices paid as part of the project activities.

How long do I have to use the fund?

Funding must be used within 12 months as outlined in the grant guidelines.

What is a conflict of interest?

Applicants are required to declare whether or not their organisation or any member of your organisation has any conflict of interest. Where a conflict of interest exists, you will need to provide details of how the conflict is being managed.

A conflict of interest is where an individual has private interests that could improperly influence, or be seen to influence, their decisions or actions in the performance of their duties.

Conflicts may be actual, potential or perceived:

Actual conflict of interest - there is a real conflict between an individual’s duties and private interests.
Potential conflict of interest - an individual has private interests that could conflict with their duties. This refers to circumstances where it is foreseeable that a conflict may arise in future and steps should be taken now to mitigate that future risk.
Perceived conflict of interest - the public or a third party could form the view that an individual’s private interests could improperly influence their decisions or actions, now or in the future.

Map of precincts

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