Three North Coast community groups will share more than $1 million to bring damaged bushland back to life, in one of the biggest environmental funding wins the region has landed this year.
Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy, Goonengerry Landcare Group and Tweed Landcare Inc were named among 12 successful projects statewide to share more than $4 million through the NSW Environmental Trust’s Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation program, which funds on-ground projects that restore ecosystems, protect native species and strengthen environmental resilience.
Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy will receive $349,955 to restore two endangered lowland subtropical rainforest communities in the hinterland of Byron Bay, using genetically diverse planting stock.
Founded in 1993 and now backed by more than 600 members and supporters, the Conservancy connects the community with world-leading scientific approaches to help save what remains of the lowland subtropical rainforest known as the Big Scrub.
The Big Scrub was once the largest lowland subtropical rainforest in Australia, covering 75,000 hectares in the hinterland of Byron Bay before it was cleared by European settlers. Today, only 1 per cent of it remains.
Goonengerry is one of Byron Shire’s most ecologically diverse areas and was also once part of the Big Scrub. Goonengerry Landcare Group will use its $349,730 grant to extend restoration work on private properties in the Byron Shire, strengthening wildlife corridors and supporting the resilience of the nearby Mount Jerusalem, Nightcap and Goonengerry national parks. The area’s warm temperate and subtropical rainforest provides important habitat for bird species with very restricted ranges, including the Albert’s Lyrebird, Green Catbird, Regent Bowerbird, Paradise Riflebird and Pale-yellow Robin, with fire, habitat clearing and invasive species the main threats to their survival.
Tweed Landcare Inc will put its $350,000 towards restoring high conservation value bushland to connect and expand habitat for threatened species across the Tweed Coast to Border Ranges corridor.
The project is now in its tenth year, known as Filling the Gaps Stage 9, and aims to improve and protect high conservation value vegetation to connect, expand and maintain habitat for the Tweed’s diverse flora and fauna, including threatened species. Tweed Landcare has worked with 40 landholders so far and restored well over 250 hectares of degraded forest, with landholder bush regeneration training and in-kind contributions forming part of the project, alongside Aboriginal cultural site assessments carried out by the Tweed-Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council.
The grants round was fiercely contested, attracting 86 applications for just 12 successful spots, with recipients awarded between $150,000 and $350,000 to deliver their projects over three to five years. Further information on the program and the full list of grant recipients is available through the NSW Environmental Trust.
Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said the funding would help protect landscapes locals cherish.
“The North Coast is home to important and unique natural environments, and it’s fantastic to see more than $1 million invested in local projects that will help protect and restore these landscapes for future generations,” Ms Saffin said.
“These organisations are powered by passionate locals who are making a real difference on the ground, and this funding will support their efforts to improve the resilience of our natural environment.
“I congratulate Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy, Goonengerry Landcare Group and Tweed Landcare on securing these highly competitive grants and thank them for their ongoing commitment to caring for the North Coast’s incredible natural heritage.”
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