RESOURCES FOR

REGIONS

Supporting our mining communities

Presenters

Chris Hanger Executive Director – Regional Infrastructure and Networks Department of Premier and Cabinet Aleks Akopyan Senior Manager – Investment Appraisal Unit Department of Premier and Cabinet

What we’ll cover in this webinar

• Why is a detailed application needed? • Preparing your detailed application for funding • Important information to include • Highlight project benefits • Things to avoid • Capturing the data for economic appraisal • Privacy and confidential information • What happens next • Questions and answers

Your project is one of many competing for funding.

• The detailed application is your chance to provide all the information about how your project will be implemented and the benefits it will deliver to NSW.

• A good application is evidence based and demonstrates a clear understanding of expected benefits as well as risks/issues.

• The level of detail required depends on the scale and complexity of your proposal.

• Some planning is recommended prior to preparing your detailed application to ensure the necessary data and evidence is included.

Why is a detailed application needed?

The next step is to submit a detailed application for project funding.

• Your detailed application must demonstrate the project:

• Has the capacity to deliver jobs and economic growth

• Has a clear purpose and rationale, with outcomes and benefits to the community that are both reasonable and comprehensively defined

• Maximises co-investment by the applicant, the Commonwealth and/or industry.

• Your business case must include financial forecasts as well as asset management and procurement plans detailing the proposed project delivery timeline; these must be presented with supporting evidence and meet NSW Government guidelines

• The Resources for Regions Data Sheets must be completed to provide information for an economic appraisal

Preparing your detailed application

Make sure your business case includes:

• A detailed description of the proposed project

• Up-to-date financial forecasts or projections, supported by relevant data

• Evidence of cost estimates including margins and overheads, project and construction management costs and an appropriate amount of contingency for risks

• Full details of how the project will be funded

• Supporting evidence for any assumptions made in the business case

Support for business case development is available:

• www.nsw.gov.au/writingabusinesscase

• regionalnsw.business@dpc.nsw.gov.au

• 1300 679 673

Important information to include

List the main benefits expected from the project, such as:

• Cost savings

• Employment and/or revenues

• Additional interstate and international visitation

• Time savings and safety (road projects)

Both qualitative and quantitative benefits should be included.

Where possible, qualitative benefits should be quantified, either in volume or dollar value terms.

Highlight project benefits

• No clear rationale and purpose for the project

• Benefits to the people of NSW are not clearly described

• Over-optimistic or unsubstantiated assumptions

• Failure to consider all available alternatives or project options, including reduced scope

• Funding options are incomplete or not all options considered and documented

• Cost estimates have not been provided

• Financial forecasts are unsupported / no data is provided

• Project does not align with NSW and local government priorities and guidelines

Things to avoid

Datasheets will be provided for applicants to complete – the Department of Premier and Cabinet will undertake an economic appraisal

• Projects must demonstrate they will improve economic growth and productivity in NSW

The following will be required for all projects:

• Funding: from Resources for Regions, other NSW Government programs, Commonwealth Government programs, local government, other organisations / industry

• Capital expenditure: land/buildings, plant/equipment, fit-out, owned vs leased

• Operational spend: operational and maintenance expenses (e.g. rent, electricity, water, insurance)

Other requirements based on the type of project may include:

• Road safety benefits: e.g. prevented accidents, injuries and fatalities

• Operational revenue: e.g. fees, memberships, sponsorships, venue hire to third parties

• Visitation: participants / supporters / spectators (international / interstate / other NSW / local regional NSW), length of stay, expenditure

Capturing the data for an economic appraisal

• All information you provide in your application may be circulated to other parties for the purpose of assisting in the assessment process

• Identify any information contained in the application that you consider confidential (provide reasons)

• Any request made under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 for access to an application, including information marked ‘confidential’, will be determined in accordance with the Act

Privacy and confidential information

• Detailed applications must be submitted to regionalnsw.business@dpc.nsw.gov.au by midnight on Monday 22 January 2018

• The Department of Premier and Cabinet and other relevant agencies will review all applications received

• Infrastructure NSW’s Regional Independent Assessment Panel will review all detailed applications and recommend successful projects to Infrastructure NSW

• Infrastructure NSW will submit its recommendations to the Government for decision

• Funding decisions are made by Government

What happens next

• We will now take questions through the webinar platform

• Please start typing your questions now

• We may not respond to all questions. Written questions can be sent to regionalnsw.business@dpc.nsw.gov.au

Questions and answers

We are here to help

Email: regionalnsw.business@dpc.nsw.gov.au

Phone: 1300 679 673

Program Guidelines:

nsw.gov.au/resourcesforregions

Business Case Guidelines:

nsw.gov.au/writing-a-business-case/

RESOURCES FOR

REGIONS

Supporting our mining communities