Heritage Incentive Grant

The place must be:

• a local or state heritage listed place in the public realm
• identified in the current Toowoomba Regional Planning Scheme Schedule 6 Planning scheme policies (PSP) SC6.6 - Heritage Places(PDF, 4MB).

Location eligibility

Preference will be given to properties located in the following zones.

We will also consider applications from regional towns and villages that have a main street precinct. Our Heritage Advisor can advise you about eligibility.

Find zoning in online mapping

To view the zone locations and boundaries:

1. Open Online mapping - smart maps.
2. Select 'Planning scheme'.
3. Open the 'Layer list' from the menu on the right.
4. Select 'Planning Data', 'Planning Scheme', 'Land Use Zones' and 'Zones'.

Examples of works that are eligible for funding include:

• repainting the place in its original colour scheme or an appropriate equivalent
• reinstating lost features important to the character of the place (e.g. verandahs, window treatments)
• undertaking urgent remedial works or stabilising endangered fabric, where you can demonstrate that the work is part of a longer-term conservation project
• removing unsympathetic additions or features, including advertising signs
• other works to the exterior of the place that contribute positively to the streetscape or public realm.

Works that are ineligible for funding include:

• unsympathetic work that detracts from heritage values
• internal work
• general operational and routine maintenance costs associated with the building
• equipment purchases
• works undertaken before applying for funding, or works undertaken before receiving formal notification of a successful grant application
• new additions or extensions to a heritage place, unless it involves reconstructing an original element
• places where orders have been served to rectify unsafe or non-compliant matters, or properties in arrears for their rates
• new commercial signage
• work that is inconsistent with the principles of the Australia International Council on Monuments and Sites Burra Charter.

Lodging an application

Submit your application online through the SmartyGrants platform. Applications for funding of works must include:

• a description of the proposed work (what you are going to do)
• drawings that are sufficient to detail the proposed works, including site plans and elevations
• copies of meeting notes or advice from our Principal Architect or any other professional advice you've received relating to the work
• evidence of any approvals required before commencing work (e.g. building or planning approvals, Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation approvals)
• two written quotes based on the agreed scope of works (dated no more than three months before the application), and an indication of your preferred quote.

If your application is incomplete or inaccurate, we will email you to tell you what other information we require. We will also reopen your application form for you to input the necessary information.

Assessment of application

We refer applications to our Principal Architect to review against the grant guidelines. They will rank applications against the following criteria.

Two other Council officers will then assess your application. The Chief Executive Officer has delegated authority to approve applications that meet the criteria described in our 2.41 Heritage Incentives Policy(PDF, 179KB).

If you're an unsuccessful applicant, you can contact the relevant staff member for feedback and help with future grant applications.

Funding allocation

Subject to funding availability, we accept applications on an ongoing basis. Once funding is approved, we will allocate funds to the project and set them aside for up to 12 months. You need to submit a Funding Agreement via SmartyGrants before commencing your heritage conservation works.

If the funding allocation expires, you'll need to reapply for funding. We will not increase the amount of funding allocated to a project once we have approved the grant. We need to assess any variation in the scope of work as a new application.

Project implementation

Once you have obtained funding approval, you must:

• comply with the conditions of the funding allocation and any development approvals we have issued
• notify us when the work is about to commence, and at any key milestones in the process
• substantially complete the project within 12 months, otherwise you will forfeit the funding.

Payment of funding

On completion, our Heritage Advisor or Place Manager will inspect the works before we issue payment. If they consider that you've undertaken the works in line with the approved funding agreement:

1. you must provide us with evidence of payment to suppliers
2. you must invoice us for the allocated funding amount
3. we will pay the grant funds to you.

Acquittal of grant

After completing the grant, we will email you an acquittal form via SmartyGrants. You must submit the form within six weeks of completing the works, together with supporting documentation, for example, supplier invoices.

We reserve the right to request an audit of grant expenditure. You must return any unspent funds. We may withdraw your grant funding offer if you fail to comply with any of the above conditions.