Environmental Levy Benefits Nearly 20 Local Groups

Just under $340,000 is to be split among 19 local bodies through the latest distribution of Council’s Environmental Levy funding.

The Levy invites applications from community-based organisations and individuals interested in helping to improve or sustain our local environment. Under the programme, grants worth between $2,000 and $25,000 are available per project.

Council introduced the Environmental Levy (EL) as a means of encouraging local residents and organisations to undertake environmental management and improvement works. The levy currently raises around $1.3 million a year at an average cost of $44 per ratepayer, of which approximately $300,000 is available to community groups.

This time around, Council received 21 submissions and 19 were considered eligible for funding. The total to be given in grants is $339,236 while the balance of $467 will be saved for further funding in the next financial year.

“Once again I’m delighted to see a wide range of projects being financed that clearly mean a lot to the groups involved,” said Coffs Harbour Mayor Councillor Denise Knight. “The Environmental Levy was designed to help locals who are passionate about improving their immediate neighbourhood or care about a special spot that needed some TLC – and it’s great to see it working so well.”

The following projects have received funding in the 2019/2020 round of EL funding:

Applicant Project Name Amount ($) Bonville Public School P & C Association Planting for spray drift prevention – Stage 1 15,510 Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare Growing Our Future 2019/20 24,640 Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Lands Council Improving the waterways of Corindi Beach 23,130 Envite Koala habitat enhancement 24,640 First Choice Organics Sustainable profitable future food production for the Coffs Coast 23,000 Jetty Dunecare Pre-empting the sleeping invader – Glory Lily @ Boambee Beach 25,000 Jetty Dunecare Restore and enhance the natural environment of the Jetty Foreshores 25,000 Nana Glen Landcare Group Rehabilitating the Coldwater Creek Travelling Stock Reserve (TSR39744) – Phase 2 25,000 Nana Glen Landcare Group The effects of nitrates on macro invertebrates and river health 23,000 New Earth Regeneration Halls Road Koala Corridor – engaging the community in habitat restoration 4,800 New Earth Regeneration Roberts Hill Koala Corridor – protecting the connection 4,200 New Earth Regeneration Tree Fern Creek Habitat Corridor – targeting high priority vine weeds 4,200 New Earth Regeneration Newport’s Creek – riparian rainforest restoration 4,975 OzGREEN My River Coffs Harbour 24,354 Sandy Beach Action Group Revegetation of Sandy Beach Reserve – Stage 2 2,800 Southern Cross University The runoff carrying capacity of Coffs Coast estuaries 25,000 Southern Cross University Further soil chemistry investigations on intensive horticulture sites and in associated sediments 25,000 Southern Cross University Improving water quality downstream of Protected Cropping Operations (Hothouses) 20,000 Woolgoolga Regional Community Gardens Let the sun shine in 14,987 Total 339,236

EL Successful Applicants – Project Summaries