Enhancing Community Liveability through Strategic Planning and Funding
By Brian Jackson, Director, Consulting Services
Councils are at the forefront of delivering essential infrastructure, housing, and construction projects that significantly enhance community liveability. By strategically securing state and federal government funding, and effectively planning, procuring, and delivering these projects, councils can address local needs, promote sustainability, and drive economic growth.
Developing plans for the immediate and long-term future, that address the needs of the region, is crucial for creating liveable communities. This is also a crucial step in planning for and securing state and federal funding. Project alignment with corporate planning is essential.
The project planning needs to identify, scope and prioritise projects that are best aligned with your operational planning. From there, you’ll be able to determine timelines in line with budgets and outcomes, and target grant funding through project matching. This need not be a complex process, and should leverage existing processes and documents across the organisation. Extending project planning beyond the year should be linked to longer-term financial planning.
The planning stage of any project acts as a comprehensive map of how to execute the work, establishing corporate planning alignment and funding eligibility, and ultimately increasing the credibility and visibility of a project before it has even begun. By demonstrating your project is well planned to deliver good tangible outcomes at the funding application stage, you will increase your success rate in securing funds and in executing delivery of the project.
Councils should consider incorporating a Joint Grant Strategy that aligns with state and federal funding opportunities and is visible across business functions. This includes clear links to the Corporate Plan, Operational Plan and long-term financial planning. By coordinating efforts with specialist service providers, councils can create compelling project proposals that align with grant guidelines and demonstrate the benefits to community liveability, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. This approach ensures a higher likelihood of securing funding from various state and federal government programs with planned co-contributions where required from rates, user charges and miscellaneous revenue and/or permittable non-competitive funding allocations.
Of note, Federal Assistance Grants and Works 4 Queensland funding provide critical financial support for local councils, particularly remote and indigenous councils, enabling them to undertake a wide range of projects. These funds are instrumental in bridging the gap between local needs and available resources and provide potential as leverage funding, allowing councils to deliver high-impact projects to unlock local potential that are otherwise unfeasible.
Preparation of a Joint Funding Strategy for all projects and initiatives provides significant value, planning for a viable economic future and liveable community which is aligned to corporate planning documents and is visible across business functions. This integrated strategic approach assists to ensure your efforts in maturing project proposals retain value beyond a grant round because the project is part of the ‘plan’ to drive community liveability through strategic planning and funding.
All planning and strategy documents create a long-term robust ‘vision’ for realising social, economic, and environmental potential of any project, initiative or development. Integrating the ‘vision’ presents confidence and provides a platform and evidence base for compelling funding applications.
As a subsidiary of the LGAQ, we’re here to assist you with your planning for your best chance to be prepared and secure funding from the state and federal government. Peak’s Consulting Services business unit incorporates Grant Office, Professional Advisory (Planning, Strategy and Management), Procurement Office, Probity and Assurance Office and Energy Office. If you need assistance, please reach out to bjackson@wearepeak.com.au