Summary
The State Government recognises that some sporting clubs that have been impacted by the COVID‑19 restrictions are still required to maintain playing surfaces, including watering large ovals etc. To support those clubs that have significant water bills to pay, the State Government will provide financial assistance towards water and sewerage bills issued between April and June 2020.
The grant is being funded from the Community and Jobs Support Fund as part of the State Government’s broader $650 million Jobs Rescue Package.
Eligible sporting clubs/associations will receive a grant equivalent to 50 percent of the water and sewerage costs1 incurred in the eligible billing period^.
This document provides guidance to sporting clubs/associations on the application process relating to the Water Relief Grant. Please read these Guidelines before applying for the Water Relief Grant.
Eligibility
A sporting club will be eligible for a Water Relief Grant if it:
- Is an incorporated sporting club in South Australia that maintains facilities and grounds2 that require significant water usage;
- Has annual grouped Australian payroll of less than $1.5 million, and not be entitled to a payroll tax waiver under the State Government’s COVID-19 support measures;
- Is responsible for paying an SA Water (or other water supplier) water and sewerage bill directly or explicitly required to pay for water as part of its lease arrangements e.g. the club makes a specific water contribution as part of its lease to the lessor.
^ Eligible sporting clubs that have received a $10,000 Small Business Grant will receive a Water Relief Grant equivalent to 50 percent of the water and sewerage costs1 incurred during the eligible billing period less the $10,000 Small Business Grant. When determining the size of the Water Relief Grant for associations that manage sporting grounds on behalf of incorporated sporting clubs, regard will be had to whether the association or sporting clubs that use the facilities received the $10,000 Small Business Grant.
An incorporated association will be eligible for a Water Relief Grant if it:
- Manages a sporting ground on behalf of incorporated sporting clubs that use the grounds on a not-for-profit basis;
- Has annual grouped Australian payroll of less than $1.5 million, and not be entitled to a payroll tax waiver under the State Government’s COVID-19 support measures;
- Is responsible for paying an SA Water (or other water supplier) water and sewerage bill to manage the sporting ground;
- The relevant sporting clubs that use its grounds meet all of the criteria to qualify for the WRG, except for the having a water bill in its name or being on-charged for water; and
- The incorporated association agrees to on-pass the benefit of the water relief to the relevant sporting clubs as soon as possible.
These grants are not available to:
- State sporting associations/bodies that have received assistance from the South Australian Government as a result of the impact of COVID-19 on its industry.
- Local Councils that water sporting grounds used by sporting clubs.
- Educational institutions.
- Organisations whose predominate purpose is to offer camping, caravanning, park or garden facilities.
Eligibility will be determined based on an application.
The sporting club / association must provide evidence:
- That it is an incorporated association operating in South Australia.
- That it is required to maintain playing facilities that require significant water usage.
- Outlining the nature of playing facilities, maintenance requirements and separately identify water charges.
- Of the water and sewerage bill issued between 1 April and 30 June 2020 from SA Water (or another provider) or the landlord.
- To prove payment of the water and sewerage bill that was issued between 1 April and 30 June 2020 to SA Water (or other provider) or the landlord3.
- Of subsequent payment of water and sewerage bill issued between 1 April and 30 June 2020 to SA Water (or other provider) or landlord on receipt of the Government’s water relief payment.
The use of the funds is to support eligible sporting clubs maintaining their playing facilities.
If a club is part of a group of companies that is registered for payroll tax and will receive the Government of South Australia payroll tax waiver for COVID‑19 impacted businesses, the club is ineligible for this grant. Where the club is not liable for payroll tax (such as a not-for-profit organisation), the payroll eligibility criteria of less than $1,500,000 in 2019-20 is to be based on total Australian group wages for the organisation.
Applicants must certify that they meet the eligibility criteria when submitting an online application.
Applicants that are incorporated associations who manage facilities on behalf of sporting clubs must declare that they will on pass the benefit of the grant to the relevant sporting clubs that use the facilities as soon as possible.
Applicants may be subject to audit by the Government of South Australia or its representatives and will be required to produce evidence at the request of the Government for a period of two years after the grant has been approved.
If any information in applications is found to be false or misleading, the grant will be repayable on demand.
Available Funding
Eligible sporting clubs will be provided with a grant equivalent to 50 percent of their water and sewerage bill4 issued during the period 1 April to 30 June 2020^.
^ Eligible sporting clubs that have received a $10,000 Small Business Grant will receive a Water Relief Grant equivalent to 50 percent of the water and sewerage costs5 incurred during the eligible billing period less the $10,000 Small Business Grant. When determining the size of the Water Relief Grant for associations that manage sporting grounds on behalf of incorporated sporting clubs, regard will be had to whether the association or sporting clubs that use the facilities received the $10,000 Small Business Grant.
Grant Use
Grants are provided to support eligible sporting clubs to maintain their sporting facilities and grounds4 through water and sewerage bill cost relief.
Opening Date
Applications open 29 May 2020
Applications for Water Relief Grants must be submitted via www.treasury.sa.gov.au
Closing Date
Applications close 30 September 2020
Further Information
If you require further information to participate in the program please refer to FAQs or contact waterreliefgrant@sa.gov.au
DTF reserves the right to amend these Guidelines and application terms as required.
Applicants should be aware that DTF is subject to certain legislative and administrative accountability and transparency requirements of the Australian Government and Government of South Australia, including public disclosure in accordance with Premier and Cabinet policy.
DTF will treat all information provided by applicants sensitively. Any information contained in, or relating to, an application, including information identified by an applicant as confidential, may be disclosed by DTF:
- to its employees, advisers or third-parties in order to assess and process an application;
- within the Government of South Australian or other entities where this serves the legitimate interest of DTF;
- in response to a request by a House or Committee of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia or South Australia;
- where information is authorised or permitted by law to be disclosed; and/or
- where the information is already in the public domain.
DTF may verify information submitted in an online application against information held by ReturnToWorkSA.
1. Water costs do not include any costs associated with bore water usage.
2. Facilities and grounds exclude hard courts, indoor facilities etc. (e.g. netball courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts or hardcourt tennis courts).
3. A landlord can include a Local Council.
4. Water costs do not include any costs associated with bore water usage.
5. Facilities and grounds exclude hard courts, indoor facilities etc. (e.g. netball courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts or hardcourt tennis courts).