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Office of Sport

Safe Shooting Program

The Safe Shooting Program aims to enhance sport shooting facilities across New South Wales in order to provide safe, inclusive and accessible shooting environments for local communities. Up to $800,000 is available in 2022/23 to support safe shooting facilities across NSW with grants of $10,000-$50,000 available.

Important dates

  • Applications open – Tuesday 28 February 2023
  • Applications close – Closed
  • Outcomes advised – June 2023 onwards
  • Funding agreements executed for successful projects  Within 3 months of notification.

Construction must commence 30 September 2023 and be completed by 30 September 2024

Key objectives

The Program aims to enhance sport shooting facilities across New South Wales in order to provide safe, inclusive and accessible shooting environments for local communities.

The key objectives of the Program are:   

  • Improve the quality and safety of existing shooting facilities across New South Wales
  • Increase utilisation of existing shooting facilities
  • Increase participation in the sport of shooting
  • Provide inclusive and accessible community sport facilities to grow participation for women and girls, people with disability, First Nations peoples and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
  • Incorporate environmental sustainability and climate resiliency into design, construction and operation, utilising best practice design principles.

Funding availability

The NSW Government has allocated up to $800,000 for this Program in 2022/23.

The Safe Shooting Program provides grants between $10,000 and $50,000 per project.

Eligible applicants


Eligible applicants are: 

  • NSW incorporated, community based not-for-profit shooting organisations (clubs and associations) that are approved by the NSW Firearms Registry
  • Shooting ranges in NSW approved and administered by the NSW Firearms Registry
  • NSW State Sporting Organisations relevant to the sport of shooting including NSW Amateur Pistol Association, NSW Clay Target Association and NSW Rifle Association

Ineligible applicants


Ineligible applicants are any organisation types not listed in the ‘Eligible Applicants’ section, and include (but are not limited to): 

  • Incorporated, community-based, not-for-profit sporting organisations (clubs and associations whose primary purpose is to organise sporting activities/deliver sport programs) outside of the sport of shooting
  • Individuals
  • Schools, TAFEs, and Universities
  • Parents and Citizens (P&C’s) Associations
  • Progress Associations
  • NSW Institute of Sport, Australian Sports Commission (incorporating the Australian Institute of Sport) and NSW Regional Academies of Sport 
  • NSW based professional sporting organisations competing in national or state competitions
  • NSW Department of Education operated specialist sports high schools
  • NSW Office of Sport recognised NSW State Sporting Organisations (including National Sporting Organisations where the state body is part of a unitary governance model) outside of the sport of shooting
  • Australian Universities with NSW campuses 
  • NSW Government agencies. Local government authorities in New South Wales
  • Regional Joint Organisations of councils, the Lord Howe Island Board and the Unincorporated Far West groups
  • Organisations providing sport and recreation programs that benefit the community, such as PCYCs, YMCA and YWCA
  • Private enterprises (companies established under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), incorporated associations established under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW) or incorporated limited partnerships established under the Partnership Act 1892 (NSW).

An eligible organisation will be deemed not eligible for funding under this program if they are an organisation named:

(i) by the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse on its list of institutions that have not joined or signified their intent not to join the Scheme; or

(ii) by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that has not yet joined the National Redress Scheme.

Eligible projects

Applications should be for upgrading existing facilities to cover the capital cost of a project only. Staged components of a larger facility development are eligible, providing the stage being applied for meets the program eligibility criteria.

Projects must be on be on land within NSW.

All projects must provide a landowner consent form or signed letter of consent from the appropriate authorised delegate, for the project, on the land on which the facility is to be developed, including native title clearance where required.

For example, for projects located on public or crown land, the local Council is often the landowner or land manager with delegation to provide owner’s consent.

If the applicant shooting club is the landowner, a letter stating this will be sufficient.

It is not mandatory to have a current approved Development Application however applicants who can demonstrate the project is ready to be delivered by providing evidence of an approved Development Application or that development consent is not required will be prioritised.

Examples of eligible project types and costs include: 

  • Upgrade of firearms capital equipment and/or facilities to comply with Workplace Health & Safety legislation or as directed by the NSW Firearms Registry
  • Construction or implementation of new or upgraded security infrastructure that improves safety for users and the wider community
  • New and upgraded provision of universally designed amenities that are beyond compliant with regard to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and provide dignified inclusion in sport participation, for example disability access, unisex toilets or change rooms designed to be female-friendly, including parent and child change spaces
  • Environmentally and operationally sustainable initiatives that support water, energy and financial savings including new or upgrades to lighting including technology-controlled and LED lighting and installation of solar panels and smart metering technology
  • Erection of higher earth mounds or safety baffles to combat urban encroachment
  • Buying or upgrading non-fixed equipment (e.g., electronic targetry, movable baffles and movable bullet traps)
  • Projects that improve the storage, security and safety capability of shooting clubs

Priority will be given to Shooting Club facilities identified as: 

  • Being in poor or unserviceable condition 
  • Addressing a demonstrated need for the community 
  • High urgency to address facility building compliance requirements e.g. safety, building standards, including the DDA.


Ineligible project costs

The Program will not fund the following projects or project components:

  • Purchase of firearms or ammunition
  • Purchase of protective clothing
  • That do not meet relevant Australian standards
  • Projects on private land unless there is clear public benefit to the community’s interest in sport and active recreation and have documented consent from the landowner
  • Costs associated with preparing and submitting the application for funding under this program
  • Costs associated with feasibility, design, or development stages including feasibility studies, business cases and masterplans
  • Facilities where little or no public access is available
  • For the purchase or lease of land/facility
  • Related to administrative or operational expenditure which are normally the responsibility of businesses, state agencies or local councils
  • Retrospective funding, where projects have commenced construction or are completed prior to the execution of a funding agreement, or which could proceed without any NSW Government financial assistance
  • Projects that have already been funded by the NSW Government unless significant new and additional project scope is identified
  • General maintenance or replacement costs through normal wear and tear (e.g. painting, running costs and minor repairs to existing facilities)
  • For the building or upgrade of licensed areas and gaming areas
  • Repair of facilities where the damage can be covered by insurance
  • Ancillary infrastructure e.g. car parks or accommodation
  • Project administration costs and costs for the ongoing operation of the facility

Each application will be checked for eligibility by the Office of Sport. All applications, including those with uncertain eligibility assessments will be referred to the Grant Assessment Panel for a final determination on eligibility. 

Application process

Step 1: Check your eligibility

  • See Eligible Applicants section of these Guidelines to see which organisations can apply for funding
  • If you are not eligible, you can partner with an eligible organisation, although they will need to be the applicant organisation and submit the application

Step 2: Understand the requirements

  • Before you apply, please read these guidelines and related materials to make sure you understand all relevant requirements, including whether you are eligible to apply.
  • You can find the relevant information on the Office of Sport’s website: Safe Shooting Program | NSW Government

Step 3: Prepare your application

  • Gather your evidence including letters of support, funding commitments, development approvals/exemptions, images/plans, quotes, participation data etc
  • To submit a complying application all mandatory fields must be completed, and mandatory support documents must be uploaded and submitted
  • For questions relating to the grants program or for specific assistance with the online system, email the Office of Sport Grants Unit at infrastructuregrants@sport.nsw.gov.au or call 13 13 02 during standard office hours

Step 4: Submit your application

  • Applying for a grant is a simple process using the SmartyGrants platform
  • The Office of Sport recommends that applicants familiarise themselves with the online application form ahead of preparing the application and plan to submit ahead of the closing date to reduce the risk of missing the deadline. 
  • Complete your application by filling in each of the sections.
  • Upload all required supporting documentation.
  • Submit your application before the closing date and time.
  • Projects must be submitted through the SmartyGrants website to be considered eligible.
  • Successful submissions will be issued with a SmartyGrants system generated acknowledgement email containing a PDF copy of the application which will confirm the time the application was submitted.

Late applications

  • Late applications can only be considered where an applicant has started an application in SmartyGrants prior to the closing date/time.
  • A late application will only be considered where its acceptance would not compromise the integrity and competitiveness of the process.
  • Any requests received prior to closing will have their application form re-opened for late submission in SmartyGrants until 5pm on the day of closing.
  • The final determination on whether a late application will be accepted will be made by the Grant Assessment Panel supported by a probity advisor.

Late supporting documentation

  • If any document is not available prior to the closing date/time and you would like to submit this for consideration you must contact infrastructuregrants@sport.nsw.gov.au within one hour of the closing date/time.
  • Late supporting documentation will only be accepted for applications already submitted in SmartyGrants and where its acceptance would not compromise the integrity and competitiveness of the process. Any late supporting documentation received within 24 hours after the closing date/time will be taken into consideration for assessment by the Program Team.
  • The final determination on whether a late supporting documentation will be accepted will be made by the Grant Assessment Panel supported by a probity advisor.

Supporting documents

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions about the application process.

Contact Us

Past Recipients

Safe Shooting Program 2022-23 grant recipients

Resources

Potential applicants are encouraged to review our frequently asked questions to ensure that their application addresses the relevant requirements.

View the Program Guidelines

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