Growing Regions Program: Round 3 guide for councils and not-for-profits
The Growing Regions Program is an Australian Government grant program for community infrastructure in regional Australia. Round 3 is forecast but not yet open: it will offer grants of $250,000 to $15 million, and guidelines are expected from late 2026 (checked 30 October 2026).
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What is the Growing Regions Program?
Growing Regions funds new and upgraded community infrastructure outside Australia's capital cities: aquatic centres, sports precincts, town centres, trails, community hubs, airports and more. Councils and incorporated not-for-profits apply in open, competitive rounds, and projects are assessed on merit.
Round 3 sits inside a new pool of $750 million over three years, shared between Growing Regions and Thriving Suburbs (2026–27 Budget). The $600 million figure covers Rounds 1 and 2 (2023–24), not Round 3.
Is Round 3 open?
No. Round 3 is a forecast opportunity on GrantConnect (FO20260609), and applications cannot be submitted yet.
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Forecast only. Applications cannot be submitted yet | infrastructure.gov.au |
| Funding pool | $750 million over three years, shared between Growing Regions and Thriving Suburbs (2026–27 Budget) | infrastructure.gov.au |
| Grant size | $250,000 to $15 million | GrantConnect |
| Who can apply | Local government councils and incorporated not-for-profit organisations | GrantConnect |
| Where | Projects outside Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSAs). Projects inside GCCSAs fall under Thriving Suburbs | infrastructure.gov.au |
| Guidelines | Expected from late 2026 | GrantConnect |
| Selection process | Open, competitive and merit-based | infrastructure.gov.au |
Read more: Round 3: what we know.
Why prepare before the guidelines are released?
- The window is short. Round 2 was open from 5 September to 10 October 2024 (five weeks), single-stage.
- Readiness is heavily weighted. Under Round 1/2 rules, capacity, capability and readiness made up 40 of 100 points, and applicants needed recent quotes for major costs.
- Preparation costs are not grant-funded. Grant preparation, business cases and feasibility studies were ineligible costs in Round 1/2, so the work has to happen, and be paid for, before you apply.
That is why our readiness support is free. See the readiness checklist.
What got funded in Round 1?
Round 1 funded 40 projects worth $206,590,135 in total. Examples close to the kind of work IA Group does:
- Lords Around the Ground Package, Mansfield VIC: $1,410,000
- Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre (MAAC) Redevelopment, Moree NSW: $9,641,761
- Brewarrina PCYC – Youth Hub and Indoor Sports Centre, Brewarrina NSW: $10,069,524
- Lake Albert Water Sports and Event Precinct, Lake Albert NSW: $4,493,776
- Cowra Aquatic Centre, Cowra NSW: $4,890,218
- Copper Coast Regional Aquatic Facility Project, Wallaroo SA: $2,120,837
- Wanarn Community Farm, Ngaanyatjarra Lands WA: $5,201,078
Browse all 40 in the funded projects database.
How we help
- Councils and not-for-profits: free help to get a project Round 3 ready: scoping, quotes and costings, designs, and the evidence assessors look for. Get free Round 3 readiness support.
- Contractors and consultants: join a vetted bench of regional delivery partners for funded projects. Register as a delivery partner.
This site is run by Industrial Automation Group (IA Group). IA Group sells irrigation, water management, floodlighting, energy efficiency and bulk water systems, and may quote on projects it helps prepare. About us and our independence.
Last updated 30 October 2026. Markdown version