Call for Faster Assessments Incentive Program Round 2 (Australia)

Round Two of the Faster Assessments Incentive Program provides grant funding to eligible metropolitan and regional councils in New South Wales (NSW) that reduced and maintained low average development assessment times during the 2025–26 financial year. The grants support council-nominated infrastructure projects that accelerate housing delivery in high and medium growth areas. Applications close on 10 November 2026 at 11:00 pm (time zone not specified in the source). Opportunity at a Glance

- Program name: Faster Assessments Incentive Program Round 2

- Funding organization (administering department): Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (NSW)

- Opportunity type: Grant funding to eligible NSW councils

- Grant amount: From $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 (range stated in the source)

- Application opened: 29 September 2026

- Application closes: 10 November 2026, 11:00 pm (time zone not specified in the source)

- Eligible applicants: 53 metropolitan and regional NSW councils with housing targets above 1,000 dwellings and meeting program average assessment timeframe requirements

- Project completion deadline: 30 June 2030

- Project limit per council: Maximum of one project nominated per council (as stated for successful councils via SmartyGrants)

About the Opportunity

Round Two of the Faster Assessments Incentive Program rewards 53 eligible NSW councils for reducing and maintaining low average development assessment times for the 2025–26 financial year. Funding is intended to support infrastructure that accelerates housing delivery in high and medium growth areas. The program supports two improvement aspects: - Improvement against each council’s individual target for 2025–26 (measured as a percentage). - Absolute improvement compared with the previous financial year (measured as the number of days improved). The program is administered by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. Eligible councils are invited to apply for funding for one project in line with the Program Guidelines. Funding and Benefits

- Grant amount: From $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 (range stated in the source).

- Number of projects: Councils may nominate a maximum of one project (as part of the nomination stage described in the source).

- Co-contributions: Welcome but not required.

- Cost restrictions (key limitations):

- Operational or already-funded costs are not permitted. - Land acquisition, planning and design, or business-case activities are only eligible where councils can demonstrate full project delivery by 30 June 2030.

- Funding cap: Projects must fall within the council’s funding cap (funding cap details not specified in the source).

Who Is Eligible? Eligible applicant type This round is available to the 53 metropolitan and regional NSW councils that: - Have housing targets above 1,000 dwellings (housing targets published in May 2024), and - Meet the program average assessment timeframe requirements. For councils in Regional NSW that have not been provided an LGA-specific housing target, the program uses implied dwelling demand for the Housing Accord period.

Eligibility confirmations and exclusions

- Each applicant must confirm that it meets the eligibility criteria as part of its application response. - Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department’s discretion. Eligible Activities or Priority Areas Project type

Eligible projects must be:

- A single, council-nominated infrastructure project located within the LGA, - Preferably located in key housing-growth areas, - Able to be completed by 30 June 2030, - Able to enable or support new housing, - Within the council’s funding cap. What is not allowed - Operational or already-funded costs are not permitted. - Land acquisition, planning and design, or business-case activities are only eligible if the council can demonstrate full project delivery by the deadline (30 June 2030). Why This Opportunity Matters For eligible NSW councils, this program links performance in development assessment timeframes to targeted funding for infrastructure that supports housing delivery. Councils are expected to propose infrastructure projects with clear geographic service catchments, readiness to commence (or need for top-up funding), deliverability evidence, and risk management—so that projects can realistically be finished within the Housing Accord period by 30 June 2030. How to Apply The source describes a two-stage approach: an application/response (including eligibility criteria confirmation and required information) and a later nomination process for selected councils. - Prepare your application using the required checklist information (see “What your application needs to include”). - Address the eligibility criteria in your application response and confirm you meet them in full. - Submit via the application process on the NSW Government page (the source indicates “Start the application” and provides a “Apply now” button, but does not provide a direct application URL in the supplied text). - After successful councils are identified: you will be notified and invited to nominate a maximum of one project via the SmartyGrants platform. - Nominated project deadline: successful councils will be given up to 6 weeks to nominate their project via SmartyGrants (timing not specified in exact dates in the source). - SmartyGrants access note: if you are a new SmartyGrants user, you must register and create a password; if already registered, you can log in with your existing credentials.

- Official opportunity page: Faster Assessments Incentive Program Round 2 (NSW Government)

https: //www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/faster-assessments-incentive-program-round-2

Application deadline

- 10 November 2026, 11: 00 pm (time zone not specified in the source).

What your application needs to include Your application should include the following items (as stated in the source checklist): - Project location