The grants can be used for strategic flood risk management projects or other council-led actions in the strategy that demonstrate innovation and ‘beyond best practice’.

Grant eligibility

Grants of up to $45,000 (excluding GST) are available in the 2025-26 financial year to deliver strategic or innovative council-led actions.

To be eligible for a grant, your council must be an endorsing organisation of the Strategy.

Your flood project must also meet eligibility criteria and align with the principles and themes in our Guidelines for Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways (PDF, 3MB).

For the council-led actions, refer to the Strategy Action Plan 2021-26 (PDF, 4.5MB).

Local councils have several actions identified in the Action Plan that they will lead, including Action 3.3 which refers to “develop and deliver flood and drainage infrastructure maintenance programs.” The intended output is to define maintenance programs and then strategically deliver them for flood and drainage assets.

Grant applications must align with the State Government’s investment principles for grants, and should aim to drive organisational innovation while providing multiple benefits.

How to apply

If you would like to be considered for a grant, we encourage you to either:

• visit the Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways webpage and follow the prompts to apply online
• call 131 722 and lodge an application over the phone.

Support with your application

Before starting an application, we recommend you contact us to discuss your idea, or discuss your capacity to meet the closing date.

For more information, visit the Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways webpage.