The department will be closed from Monday 23 December 2024 and will reopen on Thursday 2 January 2025. We will respond to queries in the new year. Best wishes for a safe and happy festive season.
2025-2026 funding round
The Club Night Lights Program exemplifies the State Government’s commitment to the development of sustainable floodlighting infrastructure for sport across the State.
The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to community groups and local governments to develop sports floodlighting infrastructure. The program aims to maintain or increase participation in sport and recreation with an emphasis on physical activity, through rational development of good quality, well-designed and well-utilised facilities.
Through the CNLP, the State Government will invest $2.5 million per year, towards floodlighting infrastructure. There are 2 small grant rounds advertised annually (February and July) for projects with a cost up to $500,000. The maximum grant offered for small grant applications is 50% of the project cost, capped at $200,000. There is one forward planning round advertised each year for projects with a cost exceeding $500,000. The maximum grant offered for forward planning grants is one third of the total estimated project cost (excluding GST) up to a maximum grant of $1 million.
The CNLP can fund new lighting installations, or upgrades to existing lighting infrastructure, which will maintain or increase physical activity and participation.
Examples of projects which will be considered for funding include:
Funds will not be available for:
$2.5 million will be allocated in 2025/2026.
The department will assess the total eligible cost of your project (excluding GST) from the information provided. Any ineligible items shown as eligible will be deducted from the eligible project cost. This may result in the funding eligible for your project being less than the amount you have requested.
The department does not guarantee you will receive the full amount of the grant requested or the maximum level of funding. The level of financial assistance offered will be based on the overall significance of the proposed project, including the benefits provided to the community. If applicable, receiving financial assistance under this program does not guarantee future stages of your project will be funded.
There is no obligation on your local government or state sporting association to make a financial contribution to a project, however a contribution from all stakeholders (which may include local government, state sporting association and user clubs) in a project that meets local and sporting needs will be viewed favourably.
State Government funding for any project cannot exceed two thirds (66.66%) of the total project cost.
An important part of the funding process is to ensure the community can bear the true cost of running and maintaining a facility well into the future.
Developing a life cycle cost approach when considering your project’s parameters will provide you with a solid and informed base from which to make the most effective financial, economic and operationally sustainable decisions. This life cycle assessment should be undertaken in the planning of any project so all parties have an understanding of the upfront, ongoing and replacement costs over the life of the project.
Please refer to our Life Cycle Cost Guidelines.
A sinking fund is established by setting aside revenue over a period of time to meet future capital expenses. The annual amount to be set aside is determined by the expected life of the asset using the formula:
Expected cost of replacement (including inflation) divided by the expected number of years before replacement
The responsibility for maintaining and operating a facility rests with the local government, the club or a combination of both. It is important that applicants can demonstrate they can maintain the facility by developing a sinking fund for asset replacement. Local governments, as the asset owner, are expected to ensure that part of their assessment of a project includes confirmation they will underwrite any shortfalls.
Voluntary labour is work undertaken by people, without compensation or reward.
The value of work undertaken by volunteers can be included in the applicant’s contribution. Voluntary labour is allowable up to $50,000 in value, however the grantee’s cash contribution must match any non-cash contribution to the project.
Administration of projects, preparation of applications, claim forms, documentation, etc, is not recognised as a claimable item. In general local government staff hours will not be recognised.
Voluntary labour can be classified as follows:
General work is being undertaken where no recognised qualification is required. This includes work that is supervised by a skilled person and labourers.
A person with a recognised qualification specific to the work to be undertaken, i.e. electrician, grader driver etc.
A person with a formal tertiary qualification specific to the work to be undertaken, i.e. architectural, legal, engineering, surveying work or similar.
Donated materials can be recognised as part of an applicant’s contribution (see examples at the end of this section). Donated materials must be recorded on a schedule of donated materials, which must be endorsed by the local government.
There is no limit on donated materials, however the applicant’s non-cash contribution cannot exceed the applicant’s cash contribution to the project.
Any local government cash/labour/machinery/materials are to be costed as part of the applicant’s cash contribution, not as voluntary labour or donated materials. However, certain services are considered to be part of the local governments normal function, for example shire engineers and administration/finance staff, project management and costs associated will not be recognised.
Donated materials may not be recognised where the donor is the supplier or contractor involved in the project. It is essential that the applicant completes a valid tender process before considering donations or discounts related to suppliers and contractors.
There are a variety of voluntary labour and/or donated materials combinations possible. Applicants must first estimate the total cost of the project and then work backwards to see if the method by which they intend to fund the project is allowable. The most important rules are:
You must contact your nearest department office to discuss your project in order to be eligible for funding. There are 9 regional offices located throughout Western Australia.
Application forms are available from your nearest department office (regional WA) and local government (metro area only). A draft for information purposes can be downloaded.
Applicants must be either a local government or a not-for-profit sport, recreation or community organisation incorporated under the WA Associations Incorporation Act 2015 and have an Australian Business Number (ABN). Clubs must demonstrate equitable access to the public on a short term and casual basis.
The land on which the facility is to be developed must be one of the following:
Throughout the planning process you must liaise with department officers to ensure that you adequately address the assessment criteria and that information in your application can be clearly understood. The emphasis of the assessment factors is on a planned approach to facility provision and will require the applicant to demonstrate need and to consider planning, design, and management issues to substantiate the need for the proposed project.
Officers assessing applications will provide a rating against the level of project consultation. Where no consultation has occurred, the rating will be zero which will affect your chances of obtaining a grant. To apply for a development bonus, you must contact your nearest department office in order to determine whether you are eligible to apply.
The key principles of facility provision explain in depth the principles against which applications for CNLP funding will be assessed. Your application will be assessed on the quality of information you provide and how well this information meets the key assessment criteria. You must answer each question in the application form and supply all requested information.
Assessments have been based on the following criteria:
Further details are available in the department’s document Key Principles of Key Principles of Facilities Provision.
If you are applying for lighting above training standard, emphasis will be placed on projects formally identified by state sporting associations as a strategic location for match standard lighting.
Projects must also demonstrate that they can be delivered within the funding period. Projects will be assessed against the scope, time and budget being proposed. You must demonstrate that your project will be completed within the nominated timeframe.
Applicants must liaise with their local government regarding planning and building approvals pertinent to their project. Your local government will assess all relevant applications and is to rank applications in priority order for the municipality.
No distinctions should be made in the ranking between local governments and community applications.
Applicants must liaise with their state sporting association to discuss the project. State sporting associations are involved in the assessment of applications and may be able to provide valuable information when planning your project, particularly on information related to technical design issues and providing evidence of strategic planning for floodlighting locations.
Advice from all of the above forms part of the assessment of your project.
Your application form, together with the supporting documentation required, must be submitted to your local council by the relevant date outlined in the application process and timeline section. Please note that many local governments will close the application period sooner to accommodate council meeting schedules. It is recommended that you check the closing date for CNLP applications with your local government to avoid missing out.
More information on Club Night Lights Program timeframes.
Funding under this program is administered in accordance with the grant agreement, which is executed by successful applicants. Some key obligations of the recipients and conditions of the grant are below — please note actual conditions may differ at time of grant acceptance:
The State Government, through the department, provides a significant contribution to the sustainability and development of the sport and recreation industry. This is achieved through financial assistance and the provision of expertise, advice and services. It is important that recipients of this support recognise the State Government contribution during the funding relationship.
Accordingly, successful applicants are required to abide by the grant acknowledgement requirements.
All information provided to the department and gathered during the grant assessment process will be stored on a database that will only be accessed by departmental personnel. The database is subject to privacy restrictions in accordance with the Privacy Act 1998 (Commonwealth) and the Freedom of Information Act 1992.
There are publications available on the department’s website which will assist you in preparing your application.
Suggested publication is: