RBFS - Frequently Asked Questions

Only Western Australian local governments, State Government departments and statutory authorities directly responsible for recreational boating facilities can apply for grants. For more information, please go to the Eligibility and grant categories page.

Each round generally opens in June and closes in September of each financial year. For more information, please go to About the Scheme.

Private clubs are not eligible for a grant. Boating facilities which will belong to private clubs for use by club members will not be funded. For more information, please go to the Eligibility and grant categories page.

Grants awarded are subject to a maximum limit of $750,000 (excluding GST).

Grants are calculated at up to 75 per cent of the total estimated cost of the project. For more information, please go to the About the Scheme page.

There is a minimum grant amount of $15,000 (GST exclusive) for a Works Application and $10,000 (GST exclusive) for a Planning Application. For more information, please go to the About the Scheme page.

Planning and construction projects at public boating facilities are eligible to apply for Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme grants. These include:

• Maritime infrastructure.
• Associated land infrastructure.
• Accessibility infrastructure.

For more information, please go to the Eligibility and grant categories page. You can also view some past successful applicants for examples.

The following types of projects are not eligible for a grant:

• General maintenance.
• Maintenance dredging.
• Private facilities or those associated with private clubs.
• Facilities not used primarily by recreational boat users, such as fishing platforms or toilets in a park without a boat ramp or jetty.
• Facilities solely for commercial vessels.
• Facilities which are not available to the recreational boating public.
• Projects which have already commenced construction.

For more information, please go to the Eligibility and grant categories page.

A planning grant can be used for any preliminary work, including:

• Feasibility studies.
• Site investigations.
• Strategic plans.
• Detailed cost estimates.
• Community consultation.
• Environmental impact assessment.
• Environmental and other approvals.
• Detailed engineering drawings.

For more information, please go to the Eligibility and grant categories page.

Staging a large Works project with many components (e.g. ramp, jetty and parking) over several years allows for changes due to unforeseen circumstances and can limit the impact of price rises. It also increases the likelihood of getting funding for a stage if there are a lot of worthy applications for limited funding.

A successful grant for one stage does not guarantee that later stages will receive funding in future. For more information, please go to the Eligibility and grant categories page.

A combined commercial-recreational facility may be eligible for a Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme grant if it can demonstrate that at least 25 per cent of the total use of the facility is for recreational purposes. For more information, please go to the Eligibility and grant categories page.

Projects that have already commenced are not eligible for a grant. An RBFS funded project cannot start before the Minister has approved it and a funding agreement has been signed. For more information, go the Eligibility and grant categories page.

Yes, you can include in-kind contributions such as donated materials, community labour and loan of machinery, but your application must provide details of how you calculated the value.

Administration and internal project management costs (staff salaries) are not considered in-kind labour and should not be included as part of the applicants funding contribution. For more information go to the About the scheme page.

Yes, your share of the total project cost can include sponsorships, donations or grants from Government or other sources, but they must be outlined in the initial application.

Applications are evaluated based on the benefits the projects will provide to the recreational boating public.

The Regional Assessment Panel will make and initial assessment, then the Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme Panel will make a final decision and submit a recommendation to the Minister.

For more information, go the Application process page.

Each round generally opens in June and closes in September of each financial year. Please allow at least two weeks to complete your application. Successful applicants are usually notified in December. For more information, please go to About the Scheme.

You may be offered full funding, funding for certain components only, or only a percentage of the funding you requested. For more information, go the Application process page.

Yes, but please consider the reasons for the application failing, which will be provided to you along with the negative result. For more information, go the Application process page.

Please contact the Department of Transport's Marine Safety unit to discuss your marine safety lighting, navigation aids and signage needs. If these are required, you may be able to include them as an expenditure item in your Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme application.