Floodplain Management Program 2026-27

Eligible applicants are local government councils, county councils, and other government bodies with equivalent flood risk management responsibilities to local councils, such as the Lord Howe Island Board and Local Land Services. Local government councils may submit joint applications if one council is the lead agency for signing the funding deed, managing funds and reporting, or if a relevant joint organisation applies for and manages the funding. Ineligible applicants include individuals, industry joint ventures, for-profit businesses and profit-distributing corporations limited by shares. Projects must meet all four essential criteria: align with program objectives, demonstrate capacity to deliver the project and financial commitment, commit to maintaining any works for their design life, and be consistent with the NSW flood prone land policy and the flood risk management process in the Flood risk management manual. Funding is not available for retrospective work, business-as-usual activities, asset maintenance or replacement, ongoing maintenance costs, in-kind co-contributions, most internal operational costs, most project management costs unless special consideration applies, data management within the applicant's own systems, contingencies, most road warning signage, compensation or reimbursement payments, stand-alone land acquisition except limited guideline circumstances, and routine operational or maintenance costs.