Infrastructure and grants

Councils are responsible for over $150 billion worth of assets in NSW that provide communities with roads, buildings, water supply, sewer networks and stormwater drains.

Plans to manage and maintain assets are developed using the Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) process.

The Office of Local Government works to support councils with the core business of providing infrastructure to the community.

The Low Cost Loans Initiative will support local councils to borrow up to $500 million for infrastructure that enables new housing supply by halving the cost of interest on their loans. This will allow councils to bring forward delivery of planned infrastructure in new housing areas.

Find out more about the Low Cost Loans Initiative. 

Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme rounds are now closed.

The NSW Government is committed to supporting councils to deliver infrastructure projects for their local communities.

Under the Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme (LIRS) the Government has committed $120 million to June 2025 to help councils pay for loans to provide much-needed upgrades and infrastructure maintenance. LIRS provides councils with a subsidy in interest costs to make it affordable to take out loans to fund their projects.

Under the scheme, 167 projects from 97 councils have been approved following consideration by an independent assessment panel. These 167 projects will together support local government infrastructure projects worth about $821 million.

The construction phase for 150 of those projects has been completed, and a total of $83 million has already been paid out to councils.

Councils can manage their LIRS projects in one easy location by visiting the LIRS project management portal. This portal will allow you to access your project information, make claims, prepare and upload supporting documentation and prepare new project applications.

View a summary list of works approved for funding:

• Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme – Approved Projects – Rounds 1, 2 and 3 (PDF, 872 KB)
• Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme – Summary Brochure (PDF, 1.8 MB)

In June 2013 the Office of Local Government carried out a detail review of the infrastructure backlog of NSW councils. The local Government infrastructure audit also considered infrastructure management processes, practices, future infrastructure requirements and funding strategies.

For more information, visit the Your council website, view the time-series data on the Your Council reports page and read the Local Government Infrastructure Audit – June 2013 (PDF, 4.7 MB).