> ## Site Index
> Fetch the complete index of this site at: https://growingregions.com.au/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

Independent guide by Industrial Automation Group. Not affiliated with the Australian Government. Official source: infrastructure.gov.au.

# Free Growing Regions Support Package

> A free package for councils and community groups getting ready for Growing Regions Round 3: access to Your project workspace, with the Round 3 guide, an intake survey, uploads and an evaluator you can rerun as often as you like, plus a free advisor call with IA Group.

## Inside the Round 3 guide

| Section | What it covers |
| --- | --- |
| Start here | What the program is, the money ahead, and your share |
| Round 3 at a glance | The next funding round: what's been announced, and what hasn't |
| What past rounds funded | 112 projects, grouped by type, with named examples |
| Why more than nine in ten Round 1 bids missed out | Five reasons from the Auditor-General's report |
| How to get ready | A practical readiness checklist |
| How IA Group supports councils and communities | Who we are, and our work in Broome, Port Hedland and Serpentine Jarrahdale |
| Where to from here, and our sources | A step-by-step timeline, how to reach us, and every number cited |

## Why it's worth your time

- **The money ahead.** One line for both programs: nil in 2026–27, $158.8M in 2027–28, then $300M in each of 2028–29 and 2029–30. That adds up to about $758.8M.
- **Competition is real.** 650 expressions of interest asked for $2.7 billion against $300 million on offer: about nine times oversubscribed.
- **Readiness counts.** Capacity to deliver, including designs, costings and approvals, was worth 40 of 100 points.
- **There's no rush.** Take the time to get it right. If now isn't the time, that's fine.

## Who it's for

Local councils and incorporated not-for-profit community groups with a community infrastructure idea outside the capital cities, whether it is an idea or nearly ready to build. Projects inside the capital cities go to the sister program, Thriving Suburbs; we can help there too.

## Who's behind it

Industrial Automation Group (IA Group). Serving regional Australia: 40 years, 1986–2026. Telstra Best of Business Awards 2026: Innovation Award: WA State Winner and National Finalist. National winners are announced 26 November 2026. [More about us](https://growingregions.com.au/about/).

## Please note

- **Not a grant application.** Registering does not lodge anything with the government and does not guarantee funding.
- **Not a replacement for procurement.** Councils still follow their own procurement rules.
- **Not independent of a supplier.** IA Group sells irrigation, water management, floodlighting, energy efficiency and bulk water systems, and may quote on projects it helps prepare.

## What's in the Support Package

Access to **Your project workspace**, a private online workspace set up by IA Group, holding your planning pack:

1. **The Round 3 guide.**
2. **An intake survey** about your project.
3. **Uploads** for quotes, plans, photos and supporting documents.
4. **Check your application:** an evaluator against the published Rounds 1 and 2 assessment criteria that you can rerun as often as you like.

Plus **a free advisor call with IA Group**. After registering, we set up your workspace and email you a sign-in link.

## How to get it

Form URL: https://growingregions.com.au/support-package/

Fields (* = required):

- * Your name
- * Work email
- * Council or community group
- * Your role
- * State or territory (one of: New South Wales; Victoria; Queensland; Western Australia; South Australia; Tasmania; Northern Territory; Australian Capital Territory)
- Project you have in mind (optional)
- Where is the project up to? (optional) (one of: Idea only; Concept design; Detailed design; Quotes in hand; Ready to build; Not sure)
- Rough total project value (optional) (one of: Under $500K; $500K to $1M; $1M to $5M; $5M to $15M; Over $15M; Not sure yet)
- * Tick box: "I agree that Industrial Automation Group (IA Group) may set up a project workspace for me, email me a sign-in link, and contact me about the Support Package, including to book my free advisor call. I understand this is not a grant application and does not guarantee funding."

Checked on 30 October 2026.

## Sources

- [Growing Regions Program Round 3 forecast notice (FO20260609)](https://www.grants.gov.au/Fo/Show?FoUuid=c417341a-cdf3-4731-a0a8-f0740662d7d0) (GrantConnect)
- [Thriving Suburbs and Growing Regions programs](https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions/regional-australia/regional-and-community-programs/community-infrastructure-thriving-suburbs-growing-regions) (Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts)
- Portfolio Budget Statements 2026–27, Infrastructure portfolio, Table 2.3.2 (Program 3.1), p.51 (budget.gov.au)
- [ANAO Report No. 13 2024–25, Implementation and Award of Funding for the Growing Regions Program (14 November 2024)](https://www.anao.gov.au/work/performance-audit/implementation-and-award-of-funding-the-growing-regions-program) (Australian National Audit Office)
- [Growing Regions Program Round 2 guidelines (October 2024)](https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/growing-regions-program-round-2-program-guidelines-20241008.pdf) (infrastructure.gov.au)
- [Telstra Best of Business Awards 2026: WA State Winners and National Finalists](https://www.telstra.com.au/small-business/best-of-business-awards/alumni/2026-state-winners/wa) (Telstra)
- [IA Group website: home, about, solutions and projects pages](https://ia-group.com.au) (Industrial Automation Group)

## Related pages

- [Growing Regions Round 3: what we know](https://growingregions.com.au/round-3.md)
- [Growing Regions eligibility explained](https://growingregions.com.au/eligibility.md)
- [Growing Regions funded projects database](https://growingregions.com.au/funded-projects.md)

Get free Round 3 readiness support: https://growingregions.com.au/get-round-3-ready/

Canonical page: https://growingregions.com.au/support-package/

*growingregions.com.au is an independent guide delivered by Industrial Automation Group, serving Australia's regional communities for 40 years. It is not an official Australian Government website and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Australian Government. For official program information, visit the Growing Regions Program page on infrastructure.gov.au: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions/regional-australia/regional-and-community-programs/community-infrastructure-thriving-suburbs-growing-regions.*