Apply for a heritage grant

A heritage overlay is required

To be eligible for a heritage grant, the property must be in an area covered by the Cardinia Shire Planning Scheme Heritage Overlay  – this means you may need an approved planning permit to do works on the property.  

Please contact Council’s Planning Department on 1300 787 624 to discuss your project and the planning requirements BEFORE you start your grant application or do any works. 

Applications for the heritage grants program can be submitted without a planning permit, however a planning permit (or written exemption) must be in place BEFORE any works start and proof of permit is sent to Council.    

Check if your place or site is covered by a heritage overlay

1. Click on the Community Compass tool. (It will open in a new window).
2. Click on the magnifying glass and start typing the site’s street address into the search bar at the top of the page until you see the full property address appear. Select the address.
3. Select 'planning zones and overlays' from the menu and check to see if the site is in a heritage overlay.

Go to Community Compass

The Victorian Heritage Database – includes all properties in Cardinia Shire that are subject to a heritage overlay, with their citations from Council's heritage studies.

Category 1 grant: Sites that are open to the public

• These grants are available to help repair or conserve places and sites of heritage significance that are open to the public such as town halls, churches and shops. Grant funding can also go towards significant trees and hedges. 
• Applicants can apply for up to 50% of the project cost, up to a maximum of $5000. 

What will be funded (category 1 grant)

• Preservation works
• Restoration works
• Reconstruction works
• Development of conservation management plan 
• Horticultural works or tree maintenance

What won't be funded (category 1 grant)

• Extensions, additions or new works to a heritage place, unless it is to improve community access – for example, wheelchair ramps. 
• Conservation or management plans involving moveable cultural heritage objects. 
• Purchase of digital or electronic equipment to record and document places or sites. 
• Projects put forward by community groups with incomplete or outstanding projects. 
• Retrospective works (that is, works that have already taken place).

Project eligibility criteria (category 1 grant)

To be eligible, projects must meet all 3 of these criteria:  

1. The place/site must be in a heritage overlay area (including significant trees). 
2. The project must meet at least one of the community benefit indicator criteria listed below.
3. The project must be consistent with any Conservation Management Plan or approved plans for the long-term conservation of the place/site. If no such plan exists, the project must be consistent with heritage best practice as outlined in the Burra Charter 2013 . 

Note: If a licence, lease or funding agreement exists between Council and the community organisation, then the agreements need to be signed and current for an application to be considered.

Community benefit criteria (category 1 grant)

Priority will be given to projects that meet multiple community benefit criteria.

The project must meet at least one of the community benefit criteria, which must be documented in your application: 

• Provides increased training and education opportunities – the project will provide an education or training venue for the community
• Provides a venue for community events – the place or site is or will be available for community events
• Provides opportunities for increased social interaction or links with other places or attractions – for example, heritage walks or bike paths
• Strong historical association with persons or events well- known to the local community – the place or site should be significant in Cardinia Shire’s history, public affairs or cultural life
• Provides increased business opportunities at heritage places and sites – the project will invest in local heritage places or sites that are, or include, business premises open to the public
• Enhances neighbouring or associated heritage places or structures – the project complements or enhances associated properties, precincts or streetscapes of which it is a part
• Improves access to community services – the project improves the community’s access to services
• Provides a cultural or tourism attraction – the project helps to boost or create a tourism or cultural destination and raises local awareness of its significance.
   

Category 2 grant: Private sites not open to the public

Applicants can apply for 25% of project cost up to a maximum of $2500.

What will be funded (Category 2 grant) 

• Preservation, restoration or reconstruction works visible from the street, such as:
  • painting on the front façade of the building
  • restoration works, such as gutter or roof replacement works
  • Horticultural works or tree maintenance.
• The development of conservation management plans. 

Applications for re-stumping works may be considered if it can be demonstrated that the works will have a positive impact on the look of the building from the street.

What won’t be funded (category 2 grant)

• Extensions, additions, or new works to a heritage place 
• Conservation or management plans involving moveable cultural heritage objects. 
• Retrospective works (that is, works that have already taken place). 

Project eligibility criteria (category 2 grant) 

To be eligible, projects must meet all 3 criteria. 

1. The place/site must be in a heritage overlay area (including significant trees). 
2. The project must meet at least one of the community benefit indicator criteria.
3. The project must be consistent with any Conservation Management Plan or approved plans for the long-term conservation of the place/site. If no such plan exists, the project must be consistent with heritage best practice as outlined in the Burra Charter 2013 {link to info on burra website}. 

Community benefit criteria (category 2 grant)

Applications should identify as many community benefit criteria as possible. Priority will be given to projects that achieve multiple community benefit indicator criteria.

The project must meet at least one of the community benefit criteria, which must be documented in your application: 

• Strong historical association with persons or events well- known to the local community – the place or site should be significant in Cardinia Shire’s history, public affairs or cultural life
• Enhances neighbouring or associated heritage places or structures – the project complements or enhances associated properties, precincts or streetscapes of which it is a part
• Preservation of historically or architecturally significant structure – the place or site should have historical or architectural significance to Cardinia Shire’s history

When is funding given?

To receive funding, works must be finished and you will need to provide: 

• evidence of expenditure, such as receipts 
• evidence of works undertaken, such as photographs. 

Note: a site inspection may be arranged before the grant is paid. 

Multiple projects

You can apply for multiple projects for the same place or site, but only one project can receive funding. Places/sites that have not received funding in the previous 2 grant rounds will be given priority.

Assessment process

• A panel of Council officers will assess applications in mid-2023. 
• Successful applicants will be contacted in July 2023. Works must be completed by 31 May 2024.

Apply

• Before you apply, please read (and download) the Guidelines to help you complete your heritage grant, to ensure you have the necessary documents and information required for your application.
• The guidelines will also provide useful tips and information to help you answer the questions in the application form.

Applications open on Monday 8 April and close at 3pm on Friday 7 June 2024.

Apply now

About Conservation Management Plans

A Conservation Management Plan (CMP) is the main guiding document for conserving and managing a heritage place. It includes a list of recommended works in priority order to allow the owner to stage the works over time.

You need a heritage consultant to draft a CMP. To find heritage conservation professionals go to Heritage Victoria's Consultant and Contractor directory.

For more information about conservation management plans visit the Heritage Victoria website

Get help with your application

Contact our Sustainablity and Heritage Planner
Ph: 1300 787 624
Email: mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au