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Community Infrastructure Grant

Applications open 1 February 2026

Ashburton District has community facilities throughout the district that play an integral role in resident’s quality of life. Maintaining this level of community infrastructure is important for the vitality of the district’s communities and residents’ sense of place and belonging.

Council recognises the importance of community reserves and halls to the district and the shared responsibility it has with the community to ensure these are maintained for current and future generations. We provide an annual Community Infrastructure Grants through a single grant application process held in February of each financial year.

Purpose

The purpose of the Community Infrastructure Grant Scheme is to assist projects that maintain and/or enhance community amenities in Ashburton District.

Funding

The maximum individual grant available is $10,000 and can be no more than 50% of the total project cost. The applicant’s share of the project’s cost can be in kind work or materials, or financial. Volunteer time shall be estimated using the minimum wage at the time of the application.

All grants must comply with Council’s Community Grants and Funding Policy.

Get notified when applications open

Grant Eligibility

All community infrastructure projects must meet the following criteria:

  • Be for a community facility located in the Ashburton District (please check below for eligible infrastructure).
  • Be for the development or maintenance of infrastructure available for community use.
Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must be:

  • Based in the Ashburton District.
  • The administering / governing body for the project.
  • Applications will only be accepted on the completed Community Infrastructure Application form.
  • Incomplete applications that do not provide all of the requested information will be excluded from funding assessment.
Ineligible Projects

The following projects are ineligible for Community Infrastructure Funding:

  • Retrospective works, except in exceptional circumstances such as a natural disaster.
  • Salaries or wages.
  • Any form of insurance.
  • Equipment hire.
  • Facility operating costs (including power, water, phones, ticketing, IT charges).
Eligible Infrastructure

MEMORIAL HALLS

Laghmor / Westerfield Memorial Hall , Mayfield Memorial Hall, Mt Somers Memorial Hall, Tinwald Memorial Hall, Mt Hutt Memorial Hall and Rakaia Memorial Hall.

COMMUNITY HALLS

Alford Forest, Flemington, Pendarves, Ashburton Centennial Sports Hall,Greenstreet, Rokeby, Barrhill, Highbank, Ruapuna, Carew, Hinds, Seafield, Chertsey, Lauriston, Staveley, Dorie, Lowcliffe / Coldstream, Wakanui, Ealing, Willowby, Eiffleton, Winchmore, Fairton and Ruapuna.

RESERVE BOARDS

Alford Forest, Methven, Highbank, Chertsey, Mt Somers,Hinds, Dorie, Pendarves, Ealing, Rakaia, Ashburton Forks / Green Street, Ruapuna, Mayfield, Tinwald and Seafield.

COMMUNITY POOLS

Council recognises that for smaller communities the local swimming pool is an important asset that enables more people to access aquatic facilities. To be eligible for funding from this scheme, the swimming pool must be accessible to the community.

The following community pools are eligible to apply for this funding: Carew, Fairton, Lauriston, Dorie, Hampstead and Willowby.

The following pools are ineligible to apply, as funding is available through Council’s Community Pools Funding Grant: Hinds Community Pool, Methven Community Pool, Mayfield Community Pool, Rakaia Community Pool, Mt Somers Community Pool and Ruapuna Community Pool.

Assessment Considerations


Council will consider the following:

  • The contribution that the proposed work will make to the usability of the facility.
  • The number of users of the facility per annum.
  • Accessibility of the facility to the general public.
  • The community contribution to the project (including volunteers, in-kind work or materials and financial support).
  • The urgency of the work required.
  • Other sources of funding potentially available to the applicant.
  • Any previous assistance provided by Council.
Disclaimer

The final funding decisions are made at the discretion of Ashburton District Council. Successful applicant’s project details may be used for publicity purposes.

Reporting

Successful applications must complete and return a funding accountability form on the completion of the project, and within the financial year which funds were granted. Receipts are required for all expenditure.

Organisations that do not return a completed accountability form will not be eligible for future Council grant funding.

Required Documents