New Safety Grant Open: A Chance to Improve Business Precincts

This funding program, worth up to $10 million in Round 1, is exclusively available to Queensland councils to deliver physical upgrades in commercial precincts that help deter crime and improve safety for small and family businesses.

Eligible project types include:

• CCTV and alarm systems
• Safety lighting and fencing
• Bollards, intercoms, and access control
• Environmental design upgrades (e.g. landscaping, line-of-sight improvements)

Councils can apply for up to $400,000 per project, with a maximum of two project submissions each. All projects must be completed by 30 June 2026.

Why This Grant Matters

The program is a direct response to growing concern around safety in public commercial areas. Whether it’s vandalism, theft, or antisocial behaviour, these issues undermine business confidence and deter customers.

This grant aims to create safer shopping strips, laneways, parks, and community-access areas where small businesses operate — making them more inviting for customers, staff, and the community.

How It Can Benefit SGCCC Members

Although businesses can’t apply directly, this is a critical opportunity for local businesses to:

• Influence council priorities by sharing concerns and hotspots.
• Push for funding in your precinct or shopping strip.
• Support efforts to improve infrastructure that boosts safety, foot traffic, and trading conditions.

If you’re a business that has been impacted by local crime or feel your area could benefit from enhanced safety measures, this is your chance to be heard. Your input could help secure funding for projects that directly benefit your precinct.

We encourage members to send their feedback or precinct suggestions to president@sgc.org.au by Friday, 21 June 2025, so we can advocate collectively to the City of Gold Coast.

More details can be found here