A native stingless beehive project at a preschool, improvements to koala habitat in Toormina and a plan to raise the profile of the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk are among environmental initiatives set to receive funding through the City of Coffs Harbour’s Environmental Levy Grants program.
Council approved more than $400,000 in funding at its 28 May meeting for the 2026–27 program.
Eleven community groups were successful, receiving either full or partial funding for their applications.
Council also resolved to transfer about $95,000 in unallocated grant funding to the Environmental Levy Strategic Program pool to support an analysis of infrastructure gaps and opportunities along the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk.
“We want to improve the connectivity and accessibility of this unique walk between Woolgoolga and Sawtell and we will seek a matching investment from the Coffs Coast Regional Park Trust for this initiative,” Mayor Nikki Williams said.
“This coastal walk has the potential to be not only nationally significant but to become a drawcard for outdoor experience travellers worldwide.”
City Chief Financial Officer Amy Mott said funding available through the 2026–27 Environmental Levy Grants program was calculated at 20 per cent of the total Environmental Levy funding pool.
“This will be topped up by $51,982 unallocated from the 2025/26 program, providing a total pool of $415,169 for the coming financial year,” Mott said.
“$13,000 has been set aside from the Environmental Levy Grants to contribute toward the cost of site inspections and meetings with the successful community applicants.”
Projects funded in 2026–27
Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare — $50,000 for Bringing Biodiversity Back: Creating More Resilient Landscapes. The project includes follow-up weed control on land managed by the City of Coffs Harbour or National Parks in buffer zones surrounding seven key Landcare sites, and continued part-time employment of a coordinator at the Landcare Community Nursery.
Gumnut Cottage Child Care Centre — $2,000 for Native Bee Education and Habitat Project. The project will introduce native stingless bees into the childcare centre environment to educate children about pollinators, biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
Habitat Revival — $30,000 for Habitat Revival. The project will work with private landholders to restore degraded rural landscapes through strategic planting and ecological restoration, encouraging the regeneration of native rainforest.
Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance — $50,000 for Restoring Arboreal Habitat Networks in Coffs Harbour Remnants. The project aims to restore and strengthen habitat for hollow-dependent arboreal wildlife across four remnant forest reserves in Coffs Harbour. New fauna surveys will be undertaken at City Hill, Dolmans Point and Pearce Drive/Donn-Patterson Drive.
Nana Glen Landcare — $14,359 for Orara Bucca Macroinvertebrate Survey. The project will assess water quality and aquatic health in the Orara and Bucca catchments through community participation in freshwater macroinvertebrate surveys across multiple sites.
Ngiyambandigay Wajaarr Aboriginal Corporation — $25,000 for Caring for yaaman – Ghost traps. The project will identify, map and remove abandoned crab traps, known as ghost traps, in estuaries across the Coffs Coast.
OzGREEN – Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (Australia) Inc — $49,989 for From Wildlife to Waste: Action for Biodiversity and Reducing Waste. The project comprises four initiatives addressing habitat loss, declining biodiversity, waste generation and pollution in the Coffs Harbour region.
OzFish Unlimited — $20,000 for Rewilding Narlu – Stage 2. The project includes restoration of 190 metres of riparian habitat along Friday and Narlu creeks. Works will remove invasive weeds and establish native trees, shrubs and grasses to improve habitat for species including the eastern freshwater cod and giant barred frog.
Sandy Beach Action Group Inc — $10,000 for Revegetation and Maintenance of Sandy Beach Reserve. The project will continue revegetation and maintenance of an 800-square-metre section of Sandy Beach Reserve and support maintenance of a new bush tucker garden.
Toormina High School Sustainability Group, auspiced by the Toormina High School P&C — $5,000 for Toormina High School Waste Reduction Program. The student-led initiative aims to reduce landfill waste and improve recycling practices across the school community.
Workways Australia (trading as Envite Environment) — $50,000 for Coffs Harbour Native Seedbank Supporting Long-Term Biodiversity Recovery. The project will continue the native seedbank network and undertake bush regeneration works in Toormina and Boambee East, including sites at Dunlop Drive, Armstrong Drive, Platts Close, Ringtail Close, Linden Avenue and Sunrise Drive.
Council also resolved that the General Manager investigate whether Kororo Public School could submit its project, Sustainability – Improved Rubbish Management, under the auspices of the school’s P&C. If feasible, the project would be eligible for a $2,000 grant.
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