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The NSW Government has opened applications for $16 million funding to maintain and improve Crown land reserves for the use of communities across the state, with $14 million in grants and $2 million in loans on offer.

Eligible applicants include all Crown land managers including local councils, community organisations, and user groups that are licensed to use Crown reserves across NSW, as well as commons and also showgrounds on freehold land.

Applications for the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund (CRIF) are now open and close 17th November 2023 through Crown Lands in the Department of Planning and Environment.

Eligible applicants include all Crown land managers including local councils, community organisations, and user groups that are licensed to use Crown reserves across NSW, as well as commons and also showgrounds on freehold land.

CRIF grants and loans support projects that can deliver social, cultural, environmental or economic benefits to local communities. They help maintain and upgrade reserves and facilities on them so residents can use and enjoy them, and also protect areas of important environmental land.

Grants also support weed and pest management projects to ensure we have healthy public reserves that help protect native plants and animals from invasive species.

The 2023-24 CRIF round will focus on projects that have positive community impacts by:

• Maintaining or increasing public access, amenity and use of a reserve.
• Supporting social cohesion and participation in community life.
• Enabling people with accessibility requirements or living with a disability to be included.
• Delivering a service or infrastructure to enable Aboriginal people to access, care for or protect and manage land.
• Conserving heritage values and/or natural values of a reserve.
• Creating employment or business opportunities.

NSW Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper noted “Crown reserves support communities by protecting the environment and providing open spaces and facilities for parks, ovals, walking, cycling, camping and other sports and recreation activities, to keep communities healthy and happy.

“They also provide land for community organisations and assets like showgrounds, public halls, scouts and girl guide groups, surf life saving clubs, racecourses and more.

“These grants will help ensure local community land continues to prosper into the future.”

For more information and to apply visit Crown Reserves Improvement Fund https://reservemanager.crownland.nsw.gov.au/funding/crif

Image. Moree Showground – the site is used for caravan, RV and camping overnight stays, and for regular and one-off sporting, recreation, cultural and community events and pursuits. The Moree Showground Crown Land Manager is responsible for managing the site and its facilities on behalf of the NSW Department of Planning and Environment – Crown Lands. 

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