2014-2015 CPTIGS GUIDELINES – REF: 14/012568
COUNTRY PASSENGER TRANSPORT
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS SCHEME
2014-2015
CPTIGS GUIDELINES
Objectives
The Country Passenger Transport Infrastructure Grants Scheme (CPTIGS) provides
support funding to improve the amenity of passenger transport infrastructure in rural,
regional and remote communities of NSW i.e. outside the specified boundary of greater
Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong metropolitan regions1. Transport for NSW
administers the Scheme.
Benefits sought from the funding include:
i)
a safer, more comfortable, and amenable environment for passengers;
ii)
improved information for country passengers;
iii)
local collaboration to improve passenger transport in rural areas;
iv)
leverage to extend local passenger transport infrastructure funding;
v)
infrastructure to complement passenger service development;
vi)
potential public transport alternative options for some country private
vehicle journeys;
vii)
making country passenger transport more attractive and accessible for all
potential users;
What the grants cover
The grants cover capital costs of infrastructure projects, including GST (if recipient is
registered for GST). While all projects are considered, the program usually provides
basic infrastructure for public transport passengers such as:
1) improved security and lighting;
2) seating and shelters for bus, taxi or train passengers;
3) passenger transport interchanges;
4) passenger transport information boards, signs, etc;
5) other passenger transport infrastructure or associated facilities to improve
access to public transport;
6) minor works directly related to passenger transport infrastructure that assist with
upgrade to meet the requirements of the Disability Standards for Accessible
Public Transport.
Transport for NSW encourages proposals that complement a transport service
development initiative (such as a review and upgrade of services or an initiative being
1
Appendix A – 2014-14 CPTIGS Eligible NSW Local Government Areas
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2014-2015 CPTIGS GUIDELINES
implemented in conjunction with the local Regional Transport Coordinator2).
Applications are also welcome that implement a broader local or regional transport
plan.
The CPTIGS does not provide funds for:
a) research or studies;
b) services;
c) management;
d) conveyances or enhancement to conveyances for use by transport providers;
e) projects that benefit conveyances or drivers only, not passengers;
f) lifecycle maintenance or recurrent costs3;
g) sealing or delineation of roads or airstrips;
h) roadworks unrelated to a passenger transport infrastructure project;
i) earthworks, drainage and pavement construction unless it is essential and
directly associated with facilities and requires only a small proportion of the total
funding sought;
j) projects staged over more than two fiscal years;
k) projects for infrastructure connected to departure/arrival areas near schools, or;
l) airports.
Applicants should ensure that the proposed project complies with all relevant
standards, including the:

Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport, available from
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Series/F2005B01059
Helpful hints for rural bus infrastructure may be found –

The Australian Human Rights Commission Guidelines, available from
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/australian-human-rights-commission-accessiblebus-stops-guidelines#_Toc278965037
Prior to funds being disbursed, successful applications will be required to provide an
access compliance report prepared by an accredited Access Consultant verifying
compliance with the above standards and guidelines.
Who can apply?
Local government, incorporated community organisations, transport operators, and
other interested organisations that have a current Australian Business Number are
eligible.
Funding
There is no guarantee as to the amount of the funding in any particular year and
proponents should not expect that funds will be available for a project in the future.
Transport for NSW does not represent that projects approved for funding will receive all
of the funds applied for.
Appendix B – Regional Transport Coordinator Contact List
This does not preclude projects where funding for maintenance or operation is provided through
advertising revenues or other forms of sponsorship.
2
3
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Contributions from other sources are expected and will significantly enhance the
approval prospects of a proposal. Proponents are encouraged to augment grants with
cash or in kind contributions from their own or other organisations. For example,
support may be available from local government, s94 levies, RTA Bus Priority Funding,
local transport operators, work or goods in kind or other sources such as parking
revenue. Passenger transport projects that incorporate infrastructure funded by the
private sector are welcome.
Project definition should be succinctly and clearly articulated in the application. The
application should be sufficiently well developed, through feasibility, design and site
investigation, that it can provide a detailed and accurate project costing. Copies of
indicative quotes for supplies are a requirement.
Conditions that apply to grants are set out at Appendix C. Each proponent (and grant
recipient, if a different entity) acknowledges and agrees to these Conditions as a
requirement of making the application.
GST will be provided for in the grant. The amount applied for should be exclusive of
GST (if the recipient is registered for GST).
Process
Transport for NSW will follow a seven-step process for each round of grants:
a) Call for applications;
b) Assessment of applications within Guidelines and the weighted criteria ;
c) Recommendations;
d) Ministerial Approval;
e) Advice of success;
f)
Payment of grant on receipt of tax invoice; and
g) Follow up of progress and completion reports.
a) Call for applications
Any person or organisation can nominate proposals for funding. Proponents should
download the application form from http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/content/countrypassenger-transport-infrastructure-grants-scheme-cptigs
When the funding round is opened, the administrator will alert Local Governments and
other relevant organisations known to be involved in country transport development
within the eligible area.
To ensure each proposal gets an appropriate, individual ranking, only one proposal
should be included on each application form. However, local communities or regions
are encouraged to coordinate their priorities and package their applications
(nominated in priority order) for funding if they apply for more than one grant.
The application form is designed to capture all the information required to assess the
proposal. It is also very useful to be able to refer to a photo of the site, a plan or map, a
spreadsheet of cost estimates and any statements of support. However, please do not
inundate the administrator with redundant material and please do not send information
by post that you have already emailed. Only send additional relevant information that
could not be emailed with the application.
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Documentation submitted should adequately reflect the level of funding requested. For
example if you are requesting a large amount of funding – you need to be sure that you
provide adequate project documentation and costings.
Proponents must submit their application by the nominated closing time and date,
preferably electronically to cptigs@transport.nsw.gov.au
Applicants will need to forward other material to:
CPTIGS
Community Transport Agreements
Transport for NSW
Locked Bag 5085
PARRAMATTA NSW 2124
b) Assessment
An Assessment Panel will be constituted by Transport for NSW and will include
representation from the Local Government and Shires Association of NSW. The panel
will independently assess projects by allocating a score to each of the following five
weighted criteria:
How does the proposal benefit non private vehicle, rural and regional transport
passengers?
What community support is there for the proposal?
Is the proposal financially & economically sound? Are other parties providing part
funding or other material contributions (minimum of 10% co-contribution is expected)
Are necessary approvals likely to be obtained, especially from Local Government, and is
there adequate capacity to design, deliver and maintain the project?
Is the overall proposal credible and comprehensive?
Weight
40
20
15
15
10
An expanded criteria checklist is provided at Appendix D to assist proponents.
It will consider all applications that meet the criteria and rank them relative to each
other. Projects that do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be assessed.
Organisations who have consistently failed to meet reporting requirements may be
deemed to not be meeting the assessment criteria. The administrator does not
represent that projects meeting all or any criteria will be funded.
The Assessment Panel may ask for clarification, seek advice from other parties,
commission independent studies or make site inspections. It will obtain advice from
Transport for NSW Regional Transport Coordinators4. However, the assessment panel
will not request additional information if application is not considered complete.
Organisations who have not provided timely reports and acquittals on previous CPTIGS
grant allocation for projects may be excluded from consideration under the current
round.
c) Recommendation
The Assessment Panel will prioritise the projects against the available funds before
recommending proposals to the Minister for Transport for approval. The size of the
recommended grant may vary from the application.
4
Appendix B – Regional Transport Coordinator Contact List
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In recommending projects for funding, the administrators will seek to ensure an
equitable distribution of funding for passenger transport infrastructure across country
New South Wales, subject to proposals being of adequate quality. It will also check
that the types of approved projects reflect a range of passenger needs.
Any proposals that are not prioritised sufficiently highly to receive funding within the
current budget allocation may be resubmitted in subsequent grant periods. However,
these resubmitted applications and any subsequent stages of long-term projects will be
ranked against all proposals in the following grant period.
If an application is not successful but appears to have merit, the Assessment Panel
may recommend that proponents or Local Government develop and resubmit
proposals for funding in future years.
d) Approval
The Minister for Transport approves the grants.
e) Advice of success
The Minister for Transport will advise successful proponents in writing that their project
is approved. However, the advice will not include the funding cheque (see Payment of
grant over).
The administrator cannot discuss which proposals were successful or not, until a
general announcement is made or the successful proponents have all been informed.
Even then, the details or merits of individual applications will not be discussed, nor the
assessment of criteria applicable to any particular application.
f) Payment of grant
Transport for NSW will forward funds, including GST (if recipient is registered for GST),
when the proponent forwards a tax invoice. In order to collect the grant, a tax invoice
must be received no later than 15 March 2015.
Transport for NSW reserve the right to impose other arrangements, including delaying
commitment of some or all of the funds.
Note that by submitting the tax invoice the recipient accepts the grant, these
Guidelines, Conditions at Appendix C (plus any additional conditions in the successful
advice letter) and the CPTIGS Reporting Requirements. Please note that projects must
be completed within two years of receiving CPTIGS funding.
The recipient must account for the GST component of the payment to the Australian
Tax Office.
g) Reporting
The proponent must nominate a ‘Project Supervisor’ whose qualifications and
experience demonstrate that they are capable of overseeing the project. The Project
Supervisor will be responsible to the General Manager, Community Transport
Agreements, or their nominee, for expenditure of the grant and for the project design,
development and delivery of the project to the agreed standards, specifications, scope
and within the time frame. Recipients are to advise any change of Project Supervisor
to Transport for NSW.
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The Project Supervisor must report progress of the project to the administrator
according to the requirements set out in Appendix E. Failure to report will result in
disqualification from consideration for future grants until the requirements are
met.
Expenditure statements included in progress and completion reports must be certified
by an independent accountant5 for any grant of $10,000 or greater.
Once works are complete, an access compliance report prepared by an accredited
Access Consultant is required verifying compliance with all relevant access standards
and guidelines.
Transport for NSW retains the right to verify that the grant has been correctly
expended, as approved, and may require some of or the entire grant to be repaid if the
project has not been delivered as proposed.
Timetable
For each funding round, proposals will be accepted early enough to allow assessment
and approval in time to release funds for the following financial year. The schedule for
the 2014-2015 round is set out over.
Date/Months
Process
18 August 14
Call for applications
31 October 14
Applications close
November 2014
Assessment
1 December 2014
Assessment outcomes to Minister
December 2014
Approval and advice to recipients
January – April 2015
July 2015 +
Recipients supply tax invoices and advise
construction start date.
Transport for NSW deposits funding
Reporting by recipients to Transport for NSW
Management
Transport for NSW administers CPTIGS through Community Transport Agreements in
the Transport Services Division.
When completing the electronic application, you will see some guidance on answering
most questions in the status bar at the bottom of your screen (or you can press the F1
Help Key). If you still have questions after considering this help and checking the
5
Accountant should be a Certified Practicing Account, a Chartered Accountant or a member of the
National Institute of Accountants.
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Transport NSW 2014-15 CPTIGS Guidelines
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Guidelines, you can contact the CPTIGS Administrator at cptigs@transport.nsw.gov.au
or by phoning (02) 8836 3191.
You are also welcome to contact the CPTIGS Administrator if you would like to discuss
your infrastructure proposal before applying.
Appendix A
2014-2015 CPTIGS Eligible NSW Local Government Areas
Albury City Council
Gilgandra Shire Council
Narromine Shire Council
Armidale Dumaresq Council
Glen Innes Severn Council
Oberon Council
Ballina Shire Council
Gloucester Shire Council
Orange City Council
Balranald Shire Council
Goulburn Mulwaree Council
Palerang Council
Bathurst Regional Council
Greater Taree City Council
Parkes Shire Council
Bega Valley Shire Council
Greater Hume Shire Council
Port Macquarie – Hastings Council
Bellingen Shire Council
Great Lakes Council
Port Stephens Council
Berrigan Shire Council
Griffith City Council
Queanbeyan City Council
Bland Shire Council
Gundagai Shire Council
Richmond Valley Council
Blayney Shire Council
Gunnedah Shire Council
Shoalhaven City Council
Bogan Shire Council
Guyra Shire Council
Singleton Shire Council
Bombala Council
Gwydir Shire Council
Snowy River Shire Council
Boorowa Council
Harden Shire Council
Tamworth Regional Council
Bourke Shire Council
Hay Shire Council
Temora Shire Council
Brewarrina Shire Council
Inverell Shire Council
Tenterfield Shire Council
Broken Hill City Council
Jerilderie Shire Council
Tumbarumba Shire Council
Byron Shire Council
Junee Shire Council
Tumut Shire Council
Cabonne Shire Council
Kempsey Shire Council
Tweed Shire Council
Carrathool Shire Council
The Council of the Municipality of
Kiama
Upper Hunter Shire Council
Central Darling Shire Council
Kyogle Council
Upper Lachlan Shire Council
Cessnock City Council
Lachlan Shire Council
Uralla Shire Council
Clarence Valley Council
Lake Macquarie City Council
Urana Shire Council
Cobar Shire Council
Leeton Shire Council
Wagga Wagga City Council
Coffs Harbour City Council
Lismore City Council
The Council of the Shire of Wakool
Conargo Shire Council
City of Lithgow Council
Unincorporated Far West
Coolamon Shire Council
Liverpool Plains Shire Council
Walcha Council
Cooma-Monaro Council
Lockhart Shire Council
Walgett Shire Council
Coonamble Shire Council
Maitland City Council
Warren Shire Council
Cootamundra Shire Council
Mid-Western Regional Council
Warrumbungle Shire Council
Corowa Shire Council
Moree Plains Shire Council
Weddin Shire Council
Cowra Shire Council
Murray Shire Council
Wellington Council
Deniliquin Council
Murrumbidgee Shire Council
Wentworth Shire Council
Dubbo City Council
Muswellbrook Shire Council
Wingecarribee Shire Council
Dungog Shire Council
Nambucca Shire Council
Wollondilly Shire Council
Eurobodalla Shire Council
Narrabri Shire Council
Yass Valley Council
Forbes Shire Council
Narrandera Shire Council
Young Shire Council
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Appendix B
Transport for NSW REGIONAL TRANSPORT COORDINATORS - CONTACT LIST
Name
Page 9
Region
Located
Anne Hurni
Western Sydney
Parramatta
Lee-Anne Stanford
Illawarra
Wollongong
Alex Codina
Southern
Queanbeyan
Vicki Lennox
Central West
Bathurst
Andrew Proctor
Murray - Murrumbidgee
Wagga Wagga
Mary Devine
New England North West
Armidale
Ben Riley
Far North Coast
Lismore
Ross Chalmers
Mid North Coast
Coffs Harbour
Steve Warham
Hunter
Newcastle
Bob Thomas
Central Coast
Gosford
Megan Prowse
Western
Cobar
Transport NSW 2014-15 CPTIGS Guidelines
Telephone
(02) 8836 6219
0434 855 282
(02) 8265 6624
0438 659 139
(02) 6229 7811
0417 218 876
(02) 6339 4910
0419 619 003
(02) 6926 8620
0418 227 996
(02) 6773 7015
0419 412 211
(02) 6621 9424
0419 685 385
(02) 6648 7231
0438 255 543
(02) 4962 6424
0408 679 202
(02) 4337 2313
0407 946 912
(02) 68364658
0458 283 556
Email
anne.hurni@transport.nsw.gov.au
lee-anne.stanford@transport.nsw.gov.au
alex.codina@transport.nsw.gov.au
vicki.lennox@transport.nsw.gov.au
andrew.proctor@transport.nsw.gov.au
mary.devine@transport.nsw.gov.au
ben.riley@transport.nsw.gov.au
ross.chalmers@transport.nsw.gov.au
steve.warham@transport.nsw.gov.au
robert.thomas@transport.nsw.gov.au
megan.prowse@transport.nsw.gov.au
2014-2015 CPTIGS GUIDELINES
Appendix C
Conditions
1. The call for applications does not commit Transport for NSW in any way to the provision of funding or
assistance to a proponent. The outcome is subject to the competitive assessment of all applications
in accordance with the published selection criteria current at the time and the available funds. The
process does not commit Transport for NSW to provide funding to the cheapest applications.
2. If the available funds are not fully subscribed by the completion of the assessment process, the right
is reserved to nominate other suitable country passenger transport infrastructure projects for funding.
3. By submitting a tax invoice6, funding recipients accept any special conditions the administrators may
include in its letter confirming the funding plus the following general conditions:
a) projects to be completed within two years of receiving funding;
b) reporting as required to Transport for NSW (detailed in Appendix E);
c) no unauthorised changes in the scope and/or location of the project;
d) no re-allocation of any part of the funds to other works without administrator approval;
e) Transport for NSW is under no obligation to provide additional funds for subsequent stages of a
project;
f) the NSW Government requires public acknowledgment of its funding support for the project; and
g) if work has not commenced within one year of the funding advice letter being sent, grants are to
be returned in full.
4. The recipient acknowledges that in accepting grant money, Transport for NSW does not assume any
legal obligation for the project. All relevant legal obligations and liabilities are the sole responsibility
of the recipient and any sub-contractor. Transport for NSW will not own, control, manage or maintain
the infrastructure.
5. The recipient is fully responsible for delivery of the project. The recipient and any sub-contractors are
to adhere to all regulatory requirements associated with the planning, design and construction of
projects in NSW. In particular, all proposals need to obtain normal planning and development
approvals from Local Government. The proponent should preferably do this before they submit an
application. The following is a typical, but not exhaustive, list of regulations and codes that must be
observed:
a) Australian Standards;
b) Building Code of Australia;
c) NSW Government Code of Practice;
d) NSW Government Code of Tendering;
e) Local Government development guidelines;
f) Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979; and
g) Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 7;
6. Transport for NSW reserves the right to assess a project’s design, development, costing,
construction or delivery at any stage and may use its own staff or engage independent contractors to
do this. In accepting a grant, funding recipients agree to make all relevant records available for
scrutiny.
7. Transport for NSW may require the development and display of Transport Services Guides and/or
project signboards acknowledging NSW Government funding.
8. Failure to comply with these or any additional conditions imposed by letter to recipients may result in
the termination of funding, repayment of part or all of the allocated grant and disqualification from
future grants under this program.
6
If the recipient does not accept any condition, they need to contact Transport for NSW noting their
specific objection(s) before submitting the invoice.
7 Available from http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Series/F2005B01059
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Appendix D
Criteria
The Assessment Panel will rank proposals relative to each other according to relevant
items from the checklist below:
How does the proposal benefit public transport passengers?
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
the project aligns with published Transport for NSW policies and priorities; there is a demonstrated and
achievable need for the facility;
the proposed facility enhances viability of local or regional passenger transport operations;
the project improves integration of modes and services;
the project has a positive impact on existing infrastructure;
there are local, social or community benefits;
the project encourages greater patronage of public transport;
the project innovates to the benefit of passengers or operators;
the safety and security of passengers is enhanced;
the project supports the use of passenger transport, walking and cycling;
the project is included in a recognised State or Local Government Plan;
the project supports access for all members of the community including aged, frail, people with disabilities,
youth and families.
What community support is there for the proposal?
12)
13)
14)
15)
16)
17)
has the application been coordinated as a local or regional priority?
the community supports the proposal and has contributed to project design;
what is the adequacy of consultation with community, transport providers, Local Government and other
relevant stakeholders?
does the local Regional Transport Coordinator8 and any Transport Working Group support the proposal?
adequate coordination with other stakeholders such as Government departments, RailCorp and relevant
Authorities?
relevant passenger transport operators support the proposal (evidence of support attached?).
Is the proposal financially and economically sound and are other parties providing funding?
18)
19)
20)
21)
22)
23)
24)
25)
26)
27)
there is a net economic benefit to the community;
comparison has been made with any alternative solutions;
the costing is detailed and reliable, with minimal contingency figures (detailed cost breakdown provided?);
suitable provision for lifecycle maintenance, management and operational costs (these costs are not included
in the grant and are to be covered by applicant or other funding source);
is the project eligible for funding under any other program, and is such funding committed?
there are copies of statements of support, and/or funding augmentation, provided;
is there exposure to any on-going liabilities?
the value for money of the total project (not just the requested grant);
what is the credibility of any assumptions, modelling and patronage forecasts?
what is the level and nature of any risk and how is it addressed?
Are necessary approvals likely to be obtained, especially from Local Government, and is there
adequate capacity to design, deliver and maintain the project?
28)
29)
30)
31)
32)
33)
34)
35)
36)
37)
38)
Local Government has approved the construction plans or given DA approval;
the design meets the desirable passenger outcome objectives;
the proponent’s experience and capacity to design and deliver the proposal;
there is compliance with relevant standards, codes and guidelines;
what is the degree of project readiness?
what is the appropriateness and efficiency of the design for its intended use?
what is the proponent’s ability to meet the proposed timetable?
what is the level of quality assurance and quality control?
what is the adequacy of the proposed operation and maintenance arrangements?
there is an adequate environmental management system.
Has the applicant demonstrated successful completion of past CPTIGS projects within the stated scope and
time constraints (evidenced by completion reports)?
Is the overall proposal credible and comprehensive?
39)
40)
8
can the Assessment Panel make a decision based only on the application?
such other factors as Transport for NSW may consider relevant.
Appendix B – Regional Transport Coordinator Contact List
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Appendix E
Reporting Requirements
If the recipient submits a tax invoice for a Country Passenger Transport Infrastructure Grant, it is
accepting any terms Transport for NSW sets out in the funding confirmation letter, the Conditions at
Appendix C and the following Reporting Requirements. Failure to comply with these arrangements
may require repayment of the grant and disqualify the recipient from future Transport for NSW
grants.
Report
Submission Due at Transport for NSW
Start of construction
notification
Within 30 days of commencement of work
Progress Report
Every 6 months from commencement of work
Completion Report
Within 60 days of completion of work
Progress Reports are to include relevant matters from the following list:
1. report of general progress to date;
2. a program, preferably a Gantt chart, noting tasks, timings, current status and progress since the last
report;
3. detailed cash flow, expenditure statement to date, noting significant variations from the cost
estimates in the application and signed by an independent accountant 9; and
4. detail of any financial, political or other risks that may affect delivery and methods of managing
these.
Completion Reports are to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
detail start and completion dates;
include a full project expenditure statement signed by an independent accountant 11;
be supported by photographic evidence of completed works;
include an access compliance report prepared by an accredited access consultant verifying that the
completed work meets the requirements of all relevant standards and guidelines;
5. certify that the scope of work contained in the approved application has been fulfilled; and
6. contain a declaration signed by the Project Supervisor that reconciles all grant funds and certifies
that they were expended on the approved project.
Reports should preferably be submitted electronically to cptigs@transport.nsw.gov.au
9
Accountant should be a Certified Practicing Account, a Chartered Accountant or a member of the
National Institute of Accountants.
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