Local Heritage Fund

The funding round for the Local Heritage Fund opens 27 February 2024

Preserving our region’s heritage and breathing new life into buildings and places from our past is a great way to enhance the character and charm our local communities are known for.

Your heritage place may need a coat of paint, restoration of its decorative features, stone or brick facade work, roof restorations, window repair or replacement, or fencing reflective of its era.

Council and Heritage NSW offer grants to owners of local heritage places to provide a 'helping hand' to make a start to renovating or conserving their place.

As custodians of an important part of our region’s history, you may be eligible to apply for up to $2,000 to help restore your heritage place back to its former glory.

Funding will only be granted up to 50% of the total project cost. In some exceptional cases applicants may apply for up to $5,000. Please note the grant offered will not be increased if the cost of the works exceed the original estimate.

Currently there are almost 550 heritage places and 14 heritage conservation areas listed in the MidCoast Council area which are eligible to apply for funding.

What projects are eligible?

Eligible projects can involve the repair, maintenance or reinstatement of missing items on heritage buildings. This can include fences, verandahs, windows, roof cladding and decorative detail. Structural work through to painting can be eligible for funding. Projects must be located within the MidCoast Council area.

Funding will not be provided where:

• work has commenced or been completed without prior knowledge or agreement of Council or the heritage team
• substantial assistance has been previously provided or where the applicant did not complete previous projects
• it is proposed to purchase reusable equipment (eg power tools) or the purchase of a building/site
• inappropriate use of materials/work is proposed that does not comply with heritage principles (eg extensions to a heritage building or relocated building) or for studies/reports related to the demolition, removal or relocation of heritage items.

The conditions of approval outline the requirements that need to be met by successful applicants.

Assessment criteria

The following criteria will be assessed against your application (it is not necessary to meet all of these criteria):

• the applicant’s ability to demonstrate technical and financial responsibility with regard to the project and meet the completion date of mid-April
• the degree to which the applicant is financially contributing to the project (contribution must be at least 50%)
• projects which are visible (eg replacement of a verandah to a building in a main street location) or demonstrate important heritage value to the community
• projects which have public accessibility (eg local museum, church or a private home which is open to the public several times a year)
• projects located in an area which has received little or no funding previously
• urgent projects to avert a threat to a heritage item.
  
  

Timing/reporting of project

Works can commence after successful applicants are notified in early July. Works must be completed and a final report provided to Council by mid-April the following year. Prior to completion, regular updates are to be submitted as milestones are reached (emails are sufficient). The final report will provide a record of the work undertaken, expenditure and photographs (before/after). If updates or the final report are not provided, funding may be withdrawn.

Payment of the grant is made to successful applicants after the works are completed, signed off by our heritage team and copies of paid invoices are submitted. Allow 21 days for the payment to be made into your nominated account.