Trunk infrastructure construction supporting industrial and commercial development in regional Victoria

VIC Trunk Infrastructure Fund

  • Grant funding available: $500,000 to $2,000,000 (exclusive of GST)
  • Funding coverage: Co‑investment funding toward eligible trunk infrastructure
  • Co‑contribution: Mandatory cash co‑contribution required
  • Project duration:
    • Projects must commence within 2 months of grant agreement execution
    • Projects must be completed within 2 years
  • EOI open until program funds are allocated or the program is closed by the Victorian Government

The Victorian Trunk Infrastructure Fund supports the delivery of essential infrastructure needed to unlock industrial and commercial land and enable private sector investment in regional Victoria. The fund co‑invests in trunk services such as power, water, transport and telecommunications to remove barriers to investment, expand business activity and create long‑term regional jobs.

Key Requirements

  • Projects must be located in regional Victoria
  • Funding supports trunk infrastructure that directly enables a private sector investment project
  • The program operates on a co‑investment model with mandatory cash contributions
  • Minimum co‑contribution requirements apply based on project location
  • Projects must demonstrate a clear investment outcome, including job creation or business expansion
  • Projects must be investment‑ready, with major delivery barriers addressed
  • Funding is provided under a grant agreement, with milestone‑based payments

What is eligible for funding?

Eligible projects must:

  • Deliver trunk infrastructure such as water, sewerage, power, telecommunications or transport
  • Enable industrial or commercial development, business establishment or expansion
  • Be located on eligible sites within regional Victoria

Eligible costs may include:

  • Infrastructure installation and commissioning
  • Contractor costs directly related to trunk infrastructure delivery
  • Planning and design activities, capped at 20% of the total project budget

Funding is not generally available for:

  • Land purchase or in‑kind land contributions
  • Strategic planning or feasibility studies
  • Retrospective projects or works already commenced
  • Plant, machinery or specialised equipment purchases
  • Ongoing operating costs or business‑as‑usual activities

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible applicants include:

  • Victorian regional local government authorities
  • Private sector organisations incorporated in Australia
  • Incorporated joint ventures and public‑private partnerships
  • Co‑operatives and eligible Indigenous organisations
  • Victorian alpine resort management bodies

Applications may be submitted by a consortium, with one eligible organisation acting as the lead applicant.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

  • Industry analysis presentation
  • Competitor Analysis Presentation
  • Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
  • 3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
  • 3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
  • End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
  • CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
  • Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
  • Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.