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This program is currently paused to new applications.

Existing draft applications must be submitted by 12pm AEST, 17 October 2025.

Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program (rPPP) - Stream One: Precinct development and planning

The rPPP Precinct development and planning offers funding of up to $5 million to develop a precinct idea through to investment-ready stage in partnership with local stakeholders to benefit regional communities.

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Application detail:

This program is currently paused to new applications. Existing draft applications must be submitted by 12pm AEST, 17 October 2025.

What do you get?

Funding of between $500,000 and $5 million.

Who is this for?

State and Territory governments, local governments, regional universities, not-for-profit organisations, including indigenous organisations.

About the program

The program will run over 4 years from 2023-24 to 2026-27. It requires a partnership approach, bringing together governments and communities to plan and deliver multi-purpose regional precincts that are place-based, tailored to local needs and have a shared vision in how the precinct connects to the region. Partners can be from government, First Nations groups, community organisations, regional universities or private enterprise.

The program supports the planning and delivery of regional, rural and remote precincts, places that encompass multiple infrastructure elements delivered by various parties through long-term partnerships between multiple providers. Regional precincts may include business districts, neighbourhoods, activity centres, commercial hubs or community and recreational areas. They will be located in renewal areas and growth areas in regional centres, regional corridors, regional cities, as well as smaller town centres that serve as service hubs in more remote communities.

There are two streams of the regional Precincts and Partnerships Program which are delivered as two separate funding opportunities:

  • Stream One - Precinct development and planning: to activate partnerships and to deliver an investment- ready precinct plan
  • Stream Two - Precinct delivery: to deliver a specified project or projects as part of a precinct.

The objective of Stream One is to activate partnerships to jointly deliver precinct plans.

The intended outcomes of Stream One are to:

  • establish partnerships comprised of relevant government entities, community organisations and businesses that have a shared vision for a regional precinct
  • deliver precinct plans that are tailored to their local contexts and based on community feedback and engagement
  • support precinct plans to become investment ready
  • contribute to the Australian Government’s current policy priorities, including but not limited to:
    • Commonwealth regional policy and transport priorities
    • the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and improving outcomes for First Nations’ communities
    • addressing housing supply and affordability via supporting the objectives of the National Housing Accord
    • decarbonisation
    • adaptation to the changing climate
    • broadening and diversifying of Australia’s industry and economy
    • the National Cultural Policy, and
    • environmental policy.

Check if you can apply

You can apply if you meet the eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria are a set of rules that describe who we can consider for this funding opportunity. You can apply if you:

  • are an eligible entity
  • have an eligible project
  • have eligible expenditure.
  • are located in an eligible geographical area.

The rules are in the funding opportunity guidelines.

You can apply if you:

  • have an Australian business number (ABN) or Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Organisations (ORIC) registration

and are one of the following entity types:

  • an Australian State/Territory Government agency or body
  • an Australian local government agency or body
  • a Regional University which may be for-profit
  • an incorporated and not-for-profit organisation. As a not-for-profit organisation you must demonstrate your not-for-profit status through one of the following:
    • current Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission’s (ACNC) registration
    • state or territory incorporated association status
    • constitutional documents and/or Articles of Association that demonstrate the not-for-profit character of the organisation.

You can’t apply if you are:

You must complete your project by 31 March 2027.

Your project must:

  • be in regional, rural or remote location, delineated as entirely outside the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSA) - see the mapping tool on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts website
  • be aimed at delivering a precinct plan that is tailored to local contexts and based on community feedback and engagement
  • be aimed at establishing partnerships comprised of relevant government entities, community organisations and businesses that have a shared vision for a regional precinct
  • not have received Commonwealth funding to undertake the same activities
  • have a minimum eligible expenditure of $500,000.

You can use this funding to cover costs incurred that are directly related to your agreed project including:

  • partnership establishment and operational costs
  • labour expenditure and on-costs
  • contract expenditure
  • relevant travel expenditure.

How to apply

When you're ready to apply

When the online form is available, you must submit your application through the online portal. You’ll need to set up an account when you first log into the portal. The portal allows you to apply for and manage a funding opportunity in a secure online environment.

First we check that you meet the eligibility criteria. Then an Independent Expert Panel will assess your application against the assessment criteria.

The assessment criteria are a set of rules that describe how we must assess each application.

We give each criterion a certain number of points.

The Panel will assess your application to determine whether it is meritorious, based on how well it meets the criteria:

  • Assessment criterion 1: Project alignment with program objectives and Australian Government priorities (35 points)
  • Assessment criterion 2: Project need (35 points)
  • Assessment criterion 3: Community engagement, collaboration, and partnership (20 points)
  • Assessment criterion 4: Capacity, capability and resources to deliver a sound precinct proposal (10 points).

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts will recommend which meritorious proposals should be considered for funding and provide policy advice based on policy considerations and the funding available.

The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government makes the final decision.

Access the portal

This program is currently paused to new applications.

If you have an existing draft application for the program, you can continue your application through the portal.

Access the portal

Sample applications

The best way to understand what information you need to provide is to start an application. We have also provided a version to download at the bottom of this page.

Technical help

See our customer portal's frequently asked questions to help with your queries. If you can't find your answer, contact us for assistance.

Use the mapping tool to determine whether your project is in an eligible location.

If you submit your application before the close date you can retrieve it any time to make changes. But you must submit it again before the opportunity closes.

Contact

Need help?

Let us answer your question over the phone, email or live chat.

  • Phone:
    13 28 46
  • Open Hours:
    Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm across Australia
  • Website:
    Contact us

Key documents

Funding opportunity guidelines

pdf · 0.60 MB docx · 0.32 MB

Sample application form

pdf · 0.45 MB docx · 0.25 MB