Platypus Quest and Dog Detectives Among Environmental Levy-Funded Projects

Searches for some of our best-known but shy wildlife using water-borne DNA and Dog Detectives are among the 18 projects that will share a total of $366,149 from Council’s Environmental Levy (EL) funds for 2021/2022.

The Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance was successful in gaining funding for its ‘Surveying Platypus Populations in the Orara Valley Using eDNA Technology’ project which will use innovative science and citizen scientists to investigate the impacts of bushfires and other threats on platypus populations in the Orara Valley. Using pre-fire data, around 30 sites will be studied through water sampling to search for platypus DNA in local waterways to help establish the status of the local platypus population.

The Alliance is also behind a plan to use specially trained Canine Scent Detectives to find koala scats for future genetic analysis in the Sawtell-Toormina-Boambee area.  The project will undertake a detailed survey of koala activity in an area known to support an important, but fragmented koala population.  The resulting DNA profiling and population analysis can then be used to establish the comparative health and genetic diversity of these populations.

Other successful organisations included the Sandy Beach Action Group, Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council, Nana Glen Landcare Group, Woolgoolga Lake Working Group, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare, Envite, University of New England and Jetty Dunecare.

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.

“As always it’s fantastic to see a hugely diverse range of projects being put forward by groups that are passionate about their work and our environment,” said Coffs Harbour Mayor Councillor Denise Knight.

View the full details of the 18 projects to be funded in this round

The following projects have received funding in this latest round of EL funding:

Applicant Project Name Amount ($) Jetty Dunecare Restore and Enhance the Natural Environment of Boambee Beach North 25,000 Jetty Dunecare Restore and Enhance the Natural Environment of Jetty Foreshores 25,000 Jetty Dunecare Pre-empting the Sleeping Invader – Glory Lily @ Boambee Beach 25,000 Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council Improving Our Coast – Part 2 25,000 Nana Glen Landcare Group Rehabilitating the Coldwater Creek Travelling Stock Reserve (TSR39744) – Phase 2 15,000 Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare Growing Our Future 2021/2022 24,695 Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare Improving Land Management Practices in the Coffs LGA 15,000 University of New England Ecohealth website for Coffs coastal catchments 20,000 Envite Boambee East/Toormina Koala Corridor Improvement 20,000 Envite Upper Bonville Riparian Restoration Action Stage 2 20,000 Envite Coffs Harbour Native Seedbank Network 16,012 Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance Surveying Platypus Populations in the Orara Valley Using eDNA Technology 20,000 Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance Canine Scent Detectives and Genetics Analysis Promoting Koala Population Health in Jaliigirr Corridors – Stage 2 20,000 Sandy Beach Action Group Revegetation of Sandy Beach Reserve Stage 4 7,000 Southern Cross University Catchment Scale Dissolved Metals Export into Coffs Coast Estuaries 25,000 Southern Cross University Further Investigating Trace Metal Pollution in Sandy Beach 25,000 Southern Cross University Valuation of Water Quality Regulation Services by Shellfish in Woolgoolga Lake 20,000 Woolgoolga Lake Working Group Caring for our Waterways – Stage 2 18,442 Total 366,149