The Open Spaces Grants Program is an initiative of the Tasmanian Government, delivered with LGAT. The purpose of the program is to support councils to provide new or renewed capital infrastructure to support active living.
The Program will provide grants totalling up to $4.94 million over two rounds through 2023-24. Funding applications of between $100,000 and $400,000 were able to be made. There was $2.9 million awarded in Round 1 and $2,025,600 awarded in Round 2.
Potential capital works projects for new or renewed outdoor infrastructure under the program, include, but aren’t limited to:
- council parks and city and town green spaces, where improvements are directed towards active living
- walking and cycling trails and pathways
- playgrounds
- ancillary facilities including accessible toilets/changerooms and journey features to encourage activity, such as infrastructure for active transport, rest points, seating, shelters and signage
- aquatic facilities
- outdoor gym facilities
- skate parks and pump tracks.
The criteria for assessment and their weighting included:
- Identified need and expected benefit for the proposed works (40 per cent).
- Value for money (40 per cent).
- Capacity to deliver the project (20 per cent).
Round 2 closed on 15 March 2024. Successful applicants are listed below. Funding offers were issued on 1 July and grant deeds will be issued once the offer has been accepted.
Councils awarded funds in Round 1 were eligible to apply for funds in Round 2 for new or unfunded projects.
Contact reception@lgat.tas.gov.au or call
Applications for Round 1 closed at 5:00pm on 29 September 2023.
As part of Round 1, 15 Tasmanian councils will share in $2.9 million of funding through the Open Spaces Grant Program.
| Council | Project(s) | Project Type |
|---|---|---|
| Brighton | Activating Bridgewater | Walking path, basketball half court, fenced dog park |
| Central Highlands | Wayatinah Community ‘Get Together’ Meeting, Picnic, Family Area | BBQ, toilet and playground |
| Clarence | Inclusive Play Upgrade at Simmons Park Lindisfarne; Rokeby Beach Kayak Launch Point; Risdon Vale Oval Shade/Shelter Structure | Playground; kayak facility; sporting shelter |
| Derwent Valley | New Norfolk Swimming Pool Revitalisation Project | Swimming pool |
| Devonport | Don Village Path Connectivity Improvements Project | Walking/cycling path |
| Dorset | Dorset Playgrounds Project | Playgrounds |
| Flinders | Repurposing of Lady Barron Tennis Courts | Multi-purpose sport – tennis and basketball |
| Glenorchy | Claremont Skate Park | Skate park |
| Hobart | Connecting city to mountain – improving access to the Pipeline Track | Walking/cycling path |
| Kingborough | Whitewater Creek Track extension to Kingborough Sports Precinct | Walking/cycling path |
| Launceston | Royal Park Skate Park | Skate park |
| Meander Valley | Carrick Recreation Ground – New public toilets and playground renewal | Toilets and playground |
| Northern Midlands | Priority capital infrastructure projects to support active living in the northern midlands | Basketball/netball half courts and playground |
| Sorell | Modular Pump Track Installation and Skate Park Upgrade | Skate Park |
| Waratah-Wynyard | The Waratah Project | Playground, shelter and paths |
Applications for Round 2 closed at 5:00pm on 15 March 2024.
As part of Round 2, nine Tasmanian councils will share in $2,025,600 of funding through the Open Spaces Grant Program.
| Council | Project(s) | Project Type |
|---|---|---|
| Break O’Day | Installation of solar lighting - Georges Bay foreshore multi-use track | Solar lighting |
| Burnie | Development of a community park and playground at Shorewell | Parks and playgrounds |
| Clarence | Upgrades to Clarence Mountain Bike Path Trail Hub; Creation of disc golf course at Seven Mile Beach; Upgrades to Bayview Park and Playground | Mountain Bike Trail; Disc golf course; Park and Playground |
| Dorset | Redevelopment of the Scottsdale Railway Precinct into community green space | Green space |
| Kingborough | Construction of all abilities access pathways in Silverwater Park | Improved access, parks and playgrounds |
| Northern Midlands | Construction of Stage One (playground) of Napoleon Street Park development | Parks and playgrounds |
| Sorell | Installation of modular bike track | Bike track |
| Waratah-Wynyard | Establishment of a dementia friendly garden on the East Wynyard foreshore | Dementia garden |
| West Coast | Upgrades to Queenstown Pool; Upgrades to Queenstown Pump Track | Pool; Pump track |