Regional Infrastructure Fund
The Regional Infrastructure Fund seeks to assist the growth of rural Victoria by providing grants for infrastructure projects that have the potential to stimulate economic and community development.
Overview
The Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) focusses on priority projects to meaningfully support regional communities in their immediate response and recovery efforts, address complex local challenges and lay the groundwork for future growth.
RIF is a key component of the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund (RJIF), the Victorian Government’s flagship regional development fund central to driving growth and recovery in rural and regional Victoria. RJIF has been allocated $30 million in 2022-23 to leverage private sector investment, grow and diversify our regional economy, and improve economic and social outcomes to make regional Victoria an even better place to live, work and invest.
RJIF supports regional communities in their immediate response and recovery efforts, seeks to address complex local challenges and enable opportunities for future growth. The impact of COVID-19 has seen increased numbers of people living and working in rural and regional Victoria. The Victorian Government recognises the ongoing opportunities to support our growing regions with the infrastructure communities need to thrive and attract a skilled workforce.
Applications for 2022-23 funding closed at 11.59pm 17 August 2022.
Objectives of Program
The objectives of the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) are:
- To create and retain jobs in regional areas and support regional economies and communities, including transition, diversification and recovery efforts.
- To increase economic and social benefits through improved community access and usability of precincts, towns or regions.
- To increase economic and social benefits through investment in strategic and public enabling infrastructure.
Projects funded through the Regional Infrastructure Fund will support the implementation of the Regional Economic Development Strategies (REDS) and the longer-term outcomes of:
- an enhanced visitor economy (e.g. cultural, food, natural assets)
- improved infrastructure for growth sectors (e.g. health, energy, education)
- increased liveability to support population growth and/or retention
- jobs growth and improved workforce supply
- more resilience to pandemics, economic transition, and natural disasters.
Funded activity should show alignment to the relevant Regional Economic Development Strategy.
Funding Details
Funding requests were considered between $20,000 and $3 million excluding GST.
To receive a grant through the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF), a project must have funding from other sources beyond the requested grant amount. Applications must show co-contribution funding as per the required funding ratio outlined in the Program Guidelines.
The Regional Infrastructure Fund supports enabling and transformative infrastructure projects that:
- are strategic and align with the relevant Regional Economic Development Strategy and RJIF objectives and, where appropriate, other current and relevant government (local, state or federal) economic and placed-based plans and strategies
- respond to and addresses opportunities and challenges relevant to an identified region or place
- make a clear case for the impact of the project and its identified economic and community benefits, at the local and regional level, and/or for the state or an industry
- are sustainable over the longer term, show demand for use and have no fundamental risks or constraints to the project’s viability (e.g. labour supply, transportation requirement etc.)
- have an evidence base showing demand for the project, demonstrate that consultation has been undertaken, and there is appropriate stakeholder support, whether that be community, local government, or local industry
- are well planned with well mapped project implementation planning, have identified other funding sources, and have a clear timeline for project development and use.
- can demonstrate that all relevant approvals and permits required to commence the project can be obtained within the proposed delivery time frame.
Applications for 2022-23 funding closed at 11.59pm 17 August 2022.
Projects funded by this program
This table includes projects funded under the previous program streams:
- Enabling Infrastructure
- Productive and Liveable Cities and Centres
- Rural Development
- Visitor Economy
Learn more about our newly announced Regional Infrastructure Fund and Investment Fast-Track Fund projects.
Download a more detailed list of funded projects announced in 2022-23 to date:
Funded Projects - Regional Infrastructure Fund 2022-23 (XLSX 16.58 KB) 
| Project Name | Region | Year | Amount Funded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buloke Council: Charlton Park 2020 Multi-Purpose Facility Development | Mallee | 2017 | $1,100,000 |
| Glenelg Council: Henty Employment Precinct infrastructure upgrade | Great South Coast | 2017 | $1,500,000 |
| Geelong Council: Leopold Community Hub Stage 2 Project | Barwon | 2017 | $3,000,000 |
| Mitchell Council: Wallan Town Centre Redevelopment Project | Goulburn | 2017 | $1,500,000 |
| Buloke Council: Donald Multipurpose Community Facility Redevelopment | Mallee | 2017 | $1,000,000 |
| Buloke Council: Advancing Intensive Agricultural Opportunities in the Loddon Mallee Region | Mallee | 2017 | $50,000 |
| Alpine Better Places - Economic Rejuvenation for Porepunkah | Ovens Murray | 2017 | $500,000 |
| Victorian Goldfields Railway Service Reorientation - Business Case and Design (Stage 1) | Loddon Campaspe | 2017 | $35,000 |
| Indigo Council: Chiltern Town Centre and Connectivity | Ovens Murray | 2017 | $200,000 |
| Macedon Ranges Council: Kyneton – Campaspe River Trail Improvement and Connections Project | Loddon Campaspe | 2017 | $300,000 |
| Wellington Council: Loch Sport Foreshore Redevelopment | Gippsland | 2017 | $175,000 |
| Pyrenees Council: Moonambel Water Supply Concept Design | Central Highlands | 2017 | $50,000 |
| Macedon Ranges Council: Romsey Streetscape and Access Project | Loddon Campaspe | 2017 | $400,000 |
| Yarriambiack Council: Woomelang Shopping Precinct Upgrade | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2017 | $100,000 |
| Towong Council: The Great River Road | Ovens Murray | 2017 | $330,000 |
| DELWP: Harcourt Mountain Bike Park | Loddon Campaspe | 2017 | $1,990,000 |
| Pyrenees Council: Sustainable Community Hubs | Central Highlands | 2018 | $230,000 |
| Hepburn Council: East Street Heavy Vehicle Access Improvements | Central Highlands | 2017 | $400,000 |
| West Wimmera Council: Lake Charlegrark Precinct Development | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2018 | $200,000 |
| Campaspe Council: Rochester Market Reserve Project | Loddon Campaspe | 2018 | $151,000 |
| Bass Coast Shire Council: Revitalisation of the Cowes Precinct - Delivering on the Phillip Island Vision for the Future | Gippsland | 2017 | $1,800,000 |
| Borough of Queenscliffe: Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve Stage 1 | Barwon | 2017 | $500,000 |
| Ararat Council: Ararat On the Move - Alexandra Oval Redevelopment - Event & Visitor Space | Central Highlands | 2018 | $500,000 |
| Castlemaine State Festival Ltd: Castlemaine Goods Shed: Creative Industries Hub | Central Highlands | 2018 | $500,000 |
| Victorian Rail Track: Bendigo Tramways Development | Loddon Campaspe | 2019 | $416,800 |
| Moira Council: Cobram Revitalisation and Liveability | Goulburn | 2019 | $500,000 |
| Towong Council: Upper Murray Events Centre | Ovens Murray | 2019 | $800,000 |
| Warrnambool Council: Reid Oval Redevelopment | Great South Coast | 2019 | $2,000,000 |
| Ballarat Council: Eureka Stadium and Sports Infrastructure - Relocation of Ballarat Showgrounds | Central Highlands | 2018 | $5,000,000 |
| Queenscliffe Council: Queenscliffe Hub | Barwon | 2018 | $2,550,000 |
| Colac Otway Council: Stage One Forrest Mountain Bike Revitalisation Project | Barwon | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Surf Coast Council: Connecting Torquay's Town Centre | Barwon | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Hepburn Council: Daylesford Aquatic and Civic Plaza Precinct | Central Highlands | 2020 | $100,000 |
| Central Goldfields Council: Central Goldfields Art Gallery Revitalisation Phase 1 | Central Highlands | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Golden Plains Council: Three Trails Project | Central Highlands | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Moorabool Council: The Bacchus Marsh 1000+ | Central Highlands | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Baw Baw Council: Rawson Skate Park and RV Park | Gippsland | 2020 | $322,782 |
| East Gippsland Council: Bairnsdale South Industrial Estate Water Augmentation Project | Gippsland | 2020 | $500,000 |
| South Gippsland Council: Great Southern Rail Trail Extension (Leongatha to Korumburra) | Gippsland | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Mitchell Council: Kilmore Township Sydney Road North Rejuvenation | Goulburn | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Shepparton Council: Linking Yanha Gurtji - RiverConnect | Goulburn | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Ararat Council: Ararat East Development Zone Road Realignment Integrated Planning Strategy | Central Highlands | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Corangamite Council: Timboon Town Centre Activation | Great South Coast | 2020 | $300,000 |
| Glenelg Council: Portland Bay Marina Extension | Great South Coast | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Moyne Council: Garvoc Community Hub | Great South Coast | 2020 | $400,000 |
| Southern Grampians Council: The Dunkeld Visitor Hub and Grampians Peaks Trailhead | Great South Coast | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Benalla Council: Visitors, Cinema, History - Co-location in Benalla | Ovens Murray | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Buloke Council: Brightening Broadway (Wycheproof) | Mallee | 2020 | $450,000 |
| Gannawarra Council: Koondrook All Abilities Play Facility | Mallee | 2020 | $390,000 |
| Mildura Council: Mildura Riverfront Powerhouse Redevelopment | Mallee | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Swan Hill Council: Vibrant Villages | Mallee | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Falls Creek Alpine Resort Management Board: Falls Creek Mountain Bike Park Stage 5 | Ovens Murray | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Ovens Murray | 2020 | $500,000 | |
| Moira Council: Bringing Big Business to Small Towns | Ovens Murray | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Towong Council: Tallangatta Holiday Park - Growing a Tourism Economy | Ovens Murray | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Wangaratta Council: Regional Activity Precinct Riverside Park | Ovens Murray | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Ovens Murray | 2020 | $430,000 | |
| Horsham Council: City to River Transformation Stage 1 - Wimmera Riverfront Activation | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Northern Grampians Council: Stawell Housing Development | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2020 | $500,000 |
| West Wimmera Council: Activating the Edenhope Community Centre - Aspirations for Paradise (Hopes for Eden) | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2020 | $333,000 |
| Yarriambiack Council: Home Is Where the Hall Is | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2020 | $438,035 |
| Northern Grampians Council: Halls Gap Activation - Stage 1 | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2018 | $100,000 |
| University of Melbourne: Stawell Underground Physics Lab | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2019 | $500,000 |
| South Gippsland Council: Redevelopment Main Street Foster | Gippsland | 2018 | $500,000 |
| Golden Plains Council: Bannockburn Civic Heart Precinct - Stage 1 | Central Highlands | 2017 | $500,000 |
| Northern Grampians Council: Stawell CBD Revitalisation | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2018 | $500,000 |
| Great South Coast | 2018 | $2,702,650 | |
| Wangaratta Council: Wangaratta Gateway Precinct Project | Ovens Murray | 2018 | $2,500,000 |
| Wodonga Council: Wodonga Library and Gallery Redevelopment project | Ovens Murray | 2018 | $4,000,000 |
| Northern Grampians Council: St Arnaud Civic Precinct Revitalisation - Stage 2 | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2018 | $200,000 |
| Pyrenees Council: Activate Avoca - Stage 1 | Central Highlands | 2018 | $500,000 |
| Yarriambiack Council: Rupanyup Community Retail Hub | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2018 | $500,000 |
| Moyne Council: Hawkesdale/Wangoom Halls Cluster Upgrade | Great South Coast | 2018 | $307,500 |
| Moyne Council: Reardon Theatre Upgrade | Great South Coast | 2018 | $292,166 |
| Worn Gundidj: Tower Hill Tourism Development | Great South Coast | 2017 | $92,062 |
| Mitchell Council: Improving Liveability - Better Parks for Seymour | Goulburn | 2018 | $500,000 |
| Murrindindi Council: Releasing the Floating City - Expanding the Houseboat Manufacturing Industry at Eildon | Goulburn | 2018 | $500,000 |
| Surf Coast Council: Torquay CBD Strategic Investment Facilitation Project | Barwon | 2017 | $40,000 |
| Moorabool Council: Business Case and Economic Analysis for Parwan Employment Precinct | Central Highlands | 2018 | $30,000 |
| Wildlife Wonders Ltd: Ecotourism for economic development and environmental conservation | Barwon | 2018 | $1,500,000 |
| Mount Alexander Council: Small Town Streetscape Project | Loddon Campaspe | 2020 | $500,000 |
| Hepburn Council: Bullarto Station Tourist Precinct | Central Highlands | 2021 | $500,000 |
| Wimmera Development Association Inc: By Five Project | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2021 | $165,000 |
| Loddon Campaspe | 2020 | $615,000 | |
| Goulburn | 2021 | $3,000,000 | |
| Mildura Council: Burraja Cultural and Environmental Centre redevelopment | Mallee | 2020 | $430,000 |
| Barwon Paper Mills - Fyansford: Fyansford Papermill Arts and Culture Precinct Regeneration - sewerage upgrade | Barwon | 2021 | $1,000,000 |
| Ararat Council: Ararat Housing Transition | Central Highlands | 2021 | $300,000 |
| Ballarat Tramway Museum: Museum Junction and Zoo Drive Track Replacement | Central Highlands | 2021 | $2,000,000 |
| Golden Plains Council: Bannockburn South West Industrial Estate | Central Highlands | 2021 | $300,000 |
| Hepburn Council: Creswick Town Hall | Central Highlands | 2021 | $500,000 |
| Hepburn Council: Trentham Community Hub | Central Highlands | 2021 | $3,500,000 |
| Hepburn Council: Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens - New Visitor Experience | Central Highlands | 2021 | $500,000 |
| Bass Coast Shire Council: Wonthaggi Activity Centre Streetscapes | Gippsland | 2021 | $2,000,000 |
| East Gippsland Council: Paynesville Maritime Precinct Stage 2 (Jetties and new boat ramp) | Gippsland | 2021 | $4,000,000 |
| State Coal Mine - Rescue Station Arts Inc: Rescue Station Amenities Block | Gippsland | 2021 | $50,000 |
| Wellington Council: Great Southern Rail Trail (GSRT) Extension - Welshpool to Alberton | Gippsland | 2021 | $6,000,000 |
| Murrindindi Council: Alexandra Rotary Park and Visitor Activity Precinct | Goulburn | 2021 | $800,000 |
| Shepparton Council: Maude Street Mall Revitalisation 2021 | Goulburn | 2021 | $3,750,000 |
| Corangamite Council: Stage 1 Port Campbell Town Centre Revitalisation Project | Great South Coast | 2021 | $6,000,000 |
| Glenelg Council: Portland Foreshore Multipurpose Community Pavilion | Great South Coast | 2021 | $5,000,000 |
| Bendigo Council: Bendigo Showgrounds upgrade | Loddon Campaspe | 2021 | $680,000 |
| Bendigo Council: Golden Dragon Museum Restaurant and Outdoor Dining Activation | Loddon Campaspe | 2021 | $1,000,000 |
| Central Goldfields Council: Maryborough Railway Station Upgrade and Activation | Loddon Campaspe | 2021 | $1,800,000 |
| Central Goldfields Council: Princes Park Outdoor Gym | Loddon Campaspe | 2021 | $95,590 |
| Girgarre Development Group Inc: Gargarro Regional Botanic Garden, Stage 2 | Loddon Campaspe | 2021 | $1,485,000 |
| Loddon Council: Pyramid Hill Community Centre Development - Stage 1 | Loddon Campaspe | 2021 | $2,475,000 |
| Mount Alexander Council: Mount Alexander - Small Town Streetscapes - Stages 3 & 4 | Loddon Campaspe | 2021 | $1,400,000 |
| Buloke Council: Buloke Play Spaces Trail | Mallee | 2021 | $2,600,000 |
| Gannawarra Council: Sustainable Recreational Water for Quambatook | Mallee | 2021 | $2,050,000 |
| Alpine Council: Gateway to Alpine Adventure - Dinner Plain Snowmaking | Ovens Murray | 2021 | $3,000,000 |
| Indigo Council: Lake Sambell Precinct Revitalisation | Ovens Murray | 2021 | $550,000 |
| Mount Buller & Mount Stirling Alpine Resort Management Board: Mt Buller Electricity Upgrade Project | Ovens Murray | 2021 | $3,600,000 |
| Towong Council: Connecting Walwa - Walwa Town Trails | Ovens Murray | 2021 | $150,000 |
| Towong Council: Corryong CBD revitalisation | Ovens Murray | 2021 | $1,500,000 |
| Towong Council: Corryong Circuit Trail | Ovens Murray | 2021 | $750,000 |
| Hindmarsh Council: Wimmera Southern Mallee Caravan Park Upgrades - Hindmarsh | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2021 | $650,000 |
| Horsham Council: Wimmera Southern Mallee Caravan Park Upgrades | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2021 | $316,000 |
| Northern Grampians Council: Wimmera Southern Mallee Caravan Park Upgrades - Northern Grampians | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2021 | $455,000 |
| West Wimmera Council: Wimmera Southern Mallee Caravan Park Upgrades - West Wimmera | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2021 | $574,000 |
| Yarriambiack Council: Warracknabeal Court House Reactivation | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2021 | $248,750 |
| Yarriambiack Council: Wimmera Southern Mallee Caravan Park Upgrades - Yarriambiack | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2021 | $544,000 |
| Beyond the Bell Great South Coast Ltd: Beyond the Bell 2017-2020 | Great South Coast | 2017 | $1,115,000 |
| Sandhurst Trustees: Small Town Big Difference Pilot - Contribution to the Community Enterprise Foundation | Mallee | 2021 | $60,000 |
| Moyne Council: East Beach Precinct | Barwon | 2022 | $1,270,319 |
| Bass Coast Shire Council: Aspirational Tracks and Trails - Bridge and Boardwalk Redevelopment | Gippsland | 2022 | $416,000 |
| South Gippsland Council: GSRT Railway Precincts Development | Gippsland | 2022 | $2,000,000 |
| Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-Operative: BADAC Elders Independent Living Community | Central Highlands | 2022 | $2,600,000 |
| Ballarat Foundation United Way Inc: The Ballarat Community Hub | Central Highlands | 2022 | $1,047,785 |
| Hindmarsh Council: Rainbow Rises Events Centre Infrastructure Development | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2022 | $500,000 |
| Moorabool Council: Navigators Community Multi Purpose Hub | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2022 | $326,000 |
| Yarriambiack Council: Easing Yarriambiack's Affordable Rental Housing Shortage | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2022 | $2,800,000 |
| Horsham Council: Hamilton Street Pedestrian Bridge | Wimmera Southern Mallee | 2022 | $1,225,000 |
| Strathbogie Council: Nagambie Industrial Precinct Expansion | Goulburn | 2022 | $900,000 |
| Buloke Council: Cabins Infrastructure for Tourism and Short Term Accommodation | Mallee | 2022 | $2,340,000 |
| Mildura Council: Mildura CBD Urban Regener8 | Mallee | 2022 | $300,000 |
| Colac Otway Council: Elliminyt Wetlands - Support New Residential Land Release for Colac | Great South Coast | 2022 | $3,000,000 |
| Geelong Council: Beacon Point Shared Trail | Barwon | 2022 | $360,000 |
| Corangamite Council: Unlocking Housing - Terang | Great South Coast | 2022 | $607,500 |
| Corangamite Council: Camperdown Timboon Rail Trail Bridge Replacement | Great South Coast | 2022 | $474,885 |
| Surf Coast Council: Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre | Barwon | 2022 | $3,000,000 |
| Glenelg Council: Traditional Owner and night time activation of the Portland foreshore | Great South Coast | 2022 | $900,000 |
| Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation: Wangun Amphitheatre | Gippsland | 2022 | $995,364 |
| Wellington Council: North Sale Wetland and Biodiversity Reserve Project | Gippsland | 2022 | $1,000,000 |
| Pyrenees Council: Beaufort Lakeside Tourism Park Development | Central Highlands | 2022 | $500,000 |
| Shepparton FoodShare Inc: New Warehouse | Goulburn | 2022 | $1,718,970 |
| GOTAFE: Benalla Community & Regional Education Hub | Goulburn | 2022 | $950,000 |
| Swan Hill Council: Ngiwa Kulaithi Play Precinct Robinvale | Mallee | 2022 | $990,450 |
| Mildura Regional Development: Murrayville Permanent Fuel Solution | Mallee | 2022 | $400,000 |
| Workspace Australia: Sustaining and Enhancing Workspace Australia in Castlemaine | Loddon Campaspe | 2022 | $3,000,000 |
- This may not be a comprehensive listing of all announced funding through the Regional Infrastructure Fund
- CiC indicates the project funded amount is Commercial or Cabinet in Confidence