About this grant
What is the purpose of the Council Capacity Building Funding Round?
This round supports eligible NSW councils to build the internal capacity, capability, systems, and processes that enables the rollout of public kerbside EV charging infrastructure. It helps councils overcome barriers to planning, and community engagement and the development of key resources. Through one-on-one meetings with councils and a targeted consultation in September 2025, the NSW Government has listened to feedback from councils on their needs and barriers in relation to rolling out EV charging infrastructure. This grant has been designed to build internal capacity, capability, systems, and processes for councils to overcome their reported challenges.
Is this a competitive grant round?
No, this is a non-competitive grant round. Each eligible council can receive funding and has access to a capped funding allocation of $80,000 (ex GST). Projects are assessed individually against eligibility and assessment criteria.
Eligibility
To be eligible, projects must align with one or more of the following categories:
- Expert advice – this may include projects such as site mapping, legal advice, or data tools.
- Policy development – this may include projects such as EV strategies or planning integration.
- Community engagement – this may include projects such as education campaigns, or consultation tools.
- Capability building – this may include projects such as staff training, or consultant support.
Projects that funding cannot be used for include (but are not limited to):
- any portion of a council staff member’s salary or any internal council costs
- EV charging hardware or installation costs
- EV charging software or energy costs
- council fleet vehicles (learn more about our incentives for EV fleets)
- projects where any portion of the project costs are being covered by other grant funding including other NSW or Federal Government grants.
- projects started or completed prior to the launch date of this funding round.
Read page 16 of the Council Capacity Building Funding Round Guidelines for a full list on what the grants won’t fund.
These are the 37 eligible local councils who can apply directly for this grant:
Bayside Council Blacktown City Council Blue Mountains City Council Burwood Council Camden Council Campbelltown City Council City of Canada Bay City of Canterbury Bankstown City of Newcastle City of Parramatta City of Ryde City of Sydney City of Wollongong Cumberland City Council Fairfield City Council Georges River Council Hawkesbury City Council Hornsby Shire Council Hunter’s Hill Council | Inner West Council Ku-ring-gai Council Lane Cove Council Liverpool City Council Mosman Council North Sydney Council Northern Beaches Council Penrith City Council Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Randwick City Council Shellharbour City Council Strathfield Council Sutherland Shire Council The Hills Shire Council Waverley Council Willoughby City Council Wollondilly Shire Council Woollahra Municipal Council
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To select the eligible councils, the NSW Government considered factors such as population density, dwelling type, housing tenure, vehicle ownership and future need for kerbside charging.
Other local councils may partner with an eligible council on an application. Read the Council Capacity Building Funding Round Guidelines for more information.
Yes. Multiple eligible councils can partner on a Collaborative grant application, with one nominated as the Lead Council and others as Collaborating Councils.
Each eligible council must nominate a portion (or the whole) of their $80,000 (ex GST) funding allocation towards the Collaborative application.
There is no limit to the number of eligible councils that can partner together. However, councils can only lead up to one active Individual application and one active Collaborative application at any time. An application is considered active until it is withdrawn, deemed ineligible, or acquitted.
Yes, ineligible councils or other organisations can be a part of your project. However, ineligible councils and other organisations cannot receive funding.
Only an eligible council can be a Lead Council within a Collaborative grant application. If there is only one eligible council involved in the project, they must submit an Individual grant application.
Yes. Eligible councils may submit multiple applications during the funding round, provided:
- each application meets the minimum funding request of $20,000 (ex GST)
- the total funding requested across all submitted applications over the funding round is within the council’s funding allocation of $80,000 (ex GST).
Yes. Unsuccessful projects may be rescoped and resubmitted during the application window.
The same eligibility and assessment criteria will apply again. Read the Council Capacity Building Funding Round Guidelines to learn what makes a successful application.
Yes, but the Lead Council must be an eligible council. They remain responsible for reporting and execution of any grant funding agreements.
Funding
The NSW Government has allocated $3 million (ex GST) for this round.
Each eligible council can apply for a maximum of $80,000 (ex GST) across all their applications, Individual and Collaborative.
Each grant application must have a minimum funding request of $20,000 (ex GST).
Payments are made in two instalments:
- Milestone 1: 50% of approved funding upon signing the funding agreement.
- Milestone 2: 50% of approved funding upon project completion and acquittal.
Payment for Milestone 2 will be made on completion of each approved project within a grant application.
The NSW Government reserves the right to review underutilisation of funds and redistribute any unclaimed funds, if necessary.
Eligible councils who are deemed to have underutilised their funding allocation will be contacted by the Department after 6 months of the funding round being open.
Applications
Applications must be submitted via the NSW Government’s Grant Management System (GMS) (SmartyGrants). A link will be provided on the funding round webpage.
- Completed application form.
- Letter(s) of commitment from the Lead Council and Collaborating Councils, where applicable (template available).
- Supporting evidence for project scope and budget.
Yes, if your application hasn’t been assessed yet and your request is submitted within the application window.
Email [email protected] to request to re-open your application form.
No, late applications will not be accepted by the NSW Government.
You can have multiple active, approved applications (funding agreements) with the NSW Government.
However, councils can only lead up to one active Individual application and one active Collaborative application at any time.
For a Collaborative project, one eligible council must be nominated as the Lead Council and others as Collaborating Councils. The Lead Council must:
- submit the application and provide a letter of commitment from each Collaborating Council as part of the application
- report on progress of the project; and
- enter into the funding agreement with the NSW Government.
The Lead Council will also receive the funding nominated by all Collaborating Councils listed on the application.
Assessment and timeframes
Applications are assessed on a rolling basis throughout the application window, against the eligibility and assessment criteria. Read pages 12 to 18 of the Council Capacity Building Funding Round Guidelines for more information.
This is a non-competitive grant round, so each eligible council can receive funding.
The average timeframes are:
- Assessment of eligibility and assessment criteria: around 6 weeks from application submission. Applications will be assessed monthly.
- Notification of outcome: around 8 weeks from application submission.
If further information is requested, the 8 week assessment timeframe will restart once the application has been resubmitted.
If the assessment process takes longer than anticipated, the NSW Government will notify impacted applicants.
Read pages 10 and 11 of the Council Capacity Building Funding Round Guidelines for more information.
If only part of your application is approved, you may receive partial funding. To be eligible for partial funding, your project must have clearly quantified costs within the grant application.
Unsuccessful projects may be rescoped and resubmitted during the application window.
Your application may be shared with the independent assessment panel, financial auditors, probity advisors and NSW Government staff involved in assessment, approval and contract management. Information may also be provided to auditors or integrity agencies where required. All parties must maintain confidentiality.
Information submitted through the application process is stored on secure NSW Government systems that comply with the State Records Act and NSW Cyber Security Policy. Access is restricted to staff and advisors involved in the program. Safeguards are used to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure.
Administration and reporting
The NSW Government will enter into a funding agreement for the approved project scope, eligible expenditure and delivery timeframe.
Approved projects must be completed within 120 business days from funding agreement execution.
Successful projects must submit to the Department:
- Progress report
- Mid-way report (for projects valued equal to or greater than $50,000)
- Final grant acquittal and evidence once project is complete
In addition, councils must provide ad hoc updates if requested. Read the Council Capacity Building Funding Round Guidelines for more information.
You must notify the NSW Government as soon as possible.
A variation request may be submitted and assessed at the NSW Government’s discretion, according to the requirements outlined in your funding agreement and the grant guidelines.
If a project is withdrawn by the applicant or the NSW Government, any funding that has been paid for that project must be repaid. Applicants with overdue funds will not be eligible to apply for further funding until their overdue funds have been acquitted by the NSW Government.
Getting help
Technical issues with the application form should be directed to SmartyGrants Help Desk at [email protected] or by visiting the SmartyGrants applicant help page.
If your issue relates to program content (e.g. eligibility or funding questions), email the program team at [email protected] before the round closes. We will endeavour to resolve these enquiries within 3 business days.
Questions applicable to all applicants may be added to the FAQs page by the Department, but council names will not be disclosed.
The NSW Government, at its discretion, may choose to distribute project deliverables that are not sensitive nor commercial-in-confidence for the purposes of knowledge sharing.
Yes. You can contact the Department at [email protected] with questions about eligibility, evidence requirements or program rules. For fairness and probity reasons, the Department cannot review draft applications.
You can sign up to the NSW EV mailing list to receive updates on new rounds, program changes and information sessions.
If you require support to access documents, use the application form, or need materials in alternative formats, email [email protected]. The Department will provide reasonable adjustments where possible.