Three out of three RCP Projects Funded
Following the release of the Commonwealth Government’s Regional Connectivity Program (RCP) in 2020, Peak’s Grants Team was contacted by three remote councils who wanted their communities to have access to the affordable, fast and reliable mobile and internet services that RCP funded projects could offer. But they were unsure how to go about sourcing a suitable telecommunications provider to access the funding and secure a project in their region.
Peak’s team then took over the process – from advertising the opportunity on the RCP notice board, liaising with potential telecommunication providers, accessing their suitability and experience in remote areas, as well as matching the communities’ needs to the services the telcos could offer.
Peak’s team then took its recommendations back to the councils to let them decide which potential applicant was the best fit for their individual needs.
The grants team then acted as a liaison between the individual councils and their preferred supplier to ensure the applications represented the issues and opportunities on the ground, including cost benefit analysis and articulating the social, safety and health benefits the projects could afford these communities.
On 16 April 2021, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Michael McCormack MP, the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, and the Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government, the Hon Mark Coulton MP, announced that 81 communications infrastructure projects had been funded throughout Australia under the RCP.
All three applications Peak was involved in were successfully funded. These projects will provide people in these communities to access essential online services, assisting them to utilise new business tools and connect with the digital economy.
The largest of the three successful projects is in Mornington Shire, where Telstra secured $2,661,731 to deliver a project to upgrade the capacity of the existing Telstra 4GX mobile facility in the Indigenous community of Gununa on Mornington Island. The project will also upgrade the existing fibre network between Mount Isa and Point Parker, and deploy a new mobile site near Century Mine, to provide microwave backhaul capacity to Mornington Island. The upgrades will support the delivery of government services, as well as health and education resources. Improved connectivity will also support expanded business opportunities in cultural and fishing tourism.
Barcoo Shire Council secured $101,873 to support Telstra’s 4GX mobile base station east of Stonehenge. The new base station will address a coverage black spot on the Thomson Development Road and will increase coverage on the Stonehenge to Yaraka Road, improving traveller safety, emergency communications and freight monitoring.
Field Solutions Group was successful in gaining $356,908 to deploy a fixed wireless network in the Cape York town of Napranum. The network will enable the efficient delivery of essential services, such as health, education, public safety and cultural heritage initiatives by the Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council.
Brian Jackson, Director Peak Consulting Services , says it’s so important for councils to provide access to reliable internet services which are essential for community members performing basic, every day tasks.
“It’s projects like these that make a big difference to councils’ ability to foster their communities. Reliable internet is essential in everyday life for simple tasks like banking and paying bills. Importantly, these communities can also access online learning, health services and stay in touch with loved ones. Recently, COVID has made us all more reliant on the internet at work and socially. Now these communities can benefit from what most of us take for granted.
“This is a great example of Peak’s breadth and depth of experience working with governments, communities and industry can deliver to advance our remote councils.
Open grants relevant to Queensland councils and their communities
Funding opportunity |
Available funds |
Closing date |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer Emergency Services Fund | Up to $25,000 | 7 July 2021 |
| Safer Communities Fund Round 6 - Early Intervention | $200,000 up to $1.5m | 22 July 2021 |
| National Farm Safety Education Fund: Improving Farm Safety Practices | There is no maximum grant amount, but grants cannot exceed the amount of available funds | 28 July 2021 |
| Mobile Network Hardening Program Stage 2 | There is no minimum or maximum funding amount - up to the limit of available funds total pool of $6 million (GST inclusive) | 29 July 2021 |
| Bennelong Foundation Grants | Up to $30,000 | 30 July 2021 |
| RACQ Foundation | $50,000 | 2 August 2021 |
| Safer Communities Fund Round 6 - Infrastructure | Up to $10,000 available through the Small & Vital Stream. Up to $25,000 available through the Bushfire Recovery Stream. |
24 August 2021 |
| Tackling Tough Times Together Grant | Up to $150,000 | 24 August 2021 |
|
Minimum request of funding for $10,000 up to a maximum of $250,000 |
30 September 2021 |
|
|
Amount varies according to the funding relief measures to local governments and state agencies:
|
30 September 2021 |
|
|
Varies per region |
30 September 2021 |
|
|
$90 million |
30 September 2021 |
|
| Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grant Program |
There are two types of grants:
|
7 October 2021 |
|
Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and State Disaster Relief Arrangements (SDRA) |
Grants and concession loans to small business, community organisations and local governments to recover from an event where a coordinated, multi-agency response was required, and State expenditure exceeds the Commonwealth’s small disaster criterion, set at $24,000 for 2020-21 |
Activated as required |
|
Early Childhood Nutrition Grant Opportunity- The Public Health and Chronic Disease Program |
$400,000 to $2.4 million |
TBA |
|
Please see website as there are several elements. |
Ongoing at this stage |
|
|
$10,000 to $100,000 |
Ongoing |
|
|
$5,000 and $15,000 |
EOI Always Open |
|
| Indigenous Driver Licensing | Ongoing | Ongoing |
| Impact Investment Ready Growth Grant | $7million total | Ongoing |
| Community-Led Proposals - Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) | No set limit | Ongoing |
| Farm House Allowance | Ongoing | Ongoing |
| BBRF - Building Better Regions Round 6 | $1 billion + $250,000 grants up to $1 million will be available |
TBC |
| The Business Growth Fund Grants - Business Bounce Back Better | $25 million in total initiative - can apply for up to $50,000 | TBC |
Our Grant Program Office's expertise and experience in grant writing, coupled with our knowledge of infrastructure and communities, allow us to prepare your submission independently, with only minimal supervision and review from Council.
To learn more about how we can help you secure more grant funding for your council, please contact Senior Advisor Zoe Dark on zdark@wearepeak.com.au or 0427 139 988.