Growing Suburbs Fund

The Growing Suburbs Fund (GSF) is a $425 million investment over 8 years in critical local infrastructure in Melbourne's diverse and fast-growing outer suburbs.

In the recent 2022-23 State Budget, the Victorian Government announced $50 million in funding for the Growing Suburbs Fund to continue to support the infrastructure needs of interface and peri-urban communities.

In the 2022-23 GSF, 47 projects have been funded with a total project cost of $148.38 million to support community infrastructure projects across Melbourne's interface and peri-urban councils.

Since its establishment in 2015, the Growing Suburbs fund has supported 346 projects representing a total infrastructure investment of $1.227 billion and has created over 11,340 jobs.

Projects that received funding from 2022-23 GSF funding round have been approved by the Minister for Local Government and are listed in the table below.

Council	Project Name and Grant Amount
Bass Coast Shire Council	Anderson Street Reserve San Remo- Open Space Master Plan: $517,000 Bass Coast Rail Trail - Wonthaggi Precinct: $388,000 Rhyll Foreshore Playspace Stage 2: $235,000
Baw Baw Shire Council	Queen Street, Warragul Streetscape Project: $673,962 3-5 Rollo Street Yarragon - Community Open Space Reserve: $1,528,132
Cardinia Shire Council	Upper Beaconsfield Community, Sport and Scout Pavilion Project: $3,350,000 PB Ronald Reserve public toilet upgrade: $400,000
Casey City Council	Fairhaven Family & Children's Centre Renewal: $135,000 Camms Road Maternal and Child Health Centre Renewal: $131,600 Hampton Park Community House Renewal: $938,884
Golden Plains Shire Council	Inverleigh Active Youth Space: $1,487,587 Bannockburn Skate Park Upgrade: $805,000
Hume City Council	Grand Boulevard Reserve - Active Open Space Development: $2,000,000 Craigieburn Community Centre R2: $3,244,412
Melton City Council	Parks Development Program - Barwon Street Reserve, Taylors Hill: $250,000 Parks Development Program - Hillside Recreation Reserve Park and Play Space, Hillside: $400,000 Parks Development Program - Blackwood Drive Recreation Reserve, Melton South: $500,000 Weir Views Community Centre: $1,500,000 Plumpton Community Centre and Neighbourhood House: $1,500,000 Aintree Community Centre: $1,500,000
Mitchell Shire Council	Kilmore Senior Citizens Centre Redevelopment and Accessibility Upgrade: $830,000 Kings Park Play Space Upgrade: $200,000 Wandong Community Centre Redevelopment: $720,000
Moorabool Shire Council	Aqualink Activity Nodes: $671,470 Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Recreation Reserve Community Pavilion: $3,229,928
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council	Alexandra Park Community Health Hub: $2,900,000 Olivia Way New Playground: $246,997 Hillview Community Reserve Activation: $2,600,000
Nillumbik Shire Council	Ryans Reserve Rejuvenation Project: $1,190,837 Diamond Valley Library Outdoor Space Revitalisation Project: $438,243 Diamond Creek Community Recreation Park: $2,163,424
Surf Coast Shire Council	Barwon River Loop Walk (Stage 2): $330,000
Whittlesea City Council	Mill Park Reserve Connecting Shared Trails: $475,000 Riverside Community Activity Centre and Reserve Upgrades: $500,000 Epping Community Services Hub Refurbishment: $375,000 Community Energy Transition Program (GSF 2022-2023): $250,000 Whittlesea Township Park Connecting Community through Improved Access: $500,000
Wyndham City Council	Fortitude Drive Reserve Family Recreation Space: $908,000 Presidents Park Community Events Space: $320,000 Galvin Park Football Cricket Community Pavilion Redevelopment: $2,000,000 Jamieson Way Community Centre and Reserve Master Plan Project: $2,000,000 Alfred Rd Reserve Family Recreation Space: $1,428,400
Yarra Ranges Shire Council	Queen Road Playspace Renewal: $100,000 McKenzie-King Playspace Renewal: $150,000 Bluegum Reserve Playspace Renewal: $150,000 Wright Avenue Playspace Renewal: $100,000 Morrison Reserve Youth Activation: $2,600,000

Who is Eligible?

The 10 interface and 6 peri-urban councils were eligible to apply.

Interface councils: Cardinia Shire Council, Casey City Council, City of Whittlesea, Hume City Council, Melton City Council, Mitchell Shire Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Nillumbik Shire Council, Wyndham City Council, Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
Peri-urban councils: Bass Coast Shire Council, Baw Baw Shire Council, Golden Plains Council, Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Moorabool Shire Council, Surf Coast Shire Council.

The fund was expanded in June 2020 to cover peri-urban councils that face similar population growth and infrastructure challenges as the Victoria’s interface councils.

As a group, the interface and peri-urban councils comprise of 31.4 per cent of Victoria's population. For over two decades, population growth in these areas has exceeded the State's average, and this trend is expected to continue with around 900,000 additional residents expected to be living in the interface and peri-urban areas by 2036.