Gleniffer’s designated bushfire refuge and the Tuntable Falls Community Centre near Nimbin are getting back-up power, after landing $25,000 grants each just as the region heads into fire season.
They are two of nine North Coast towns sharing in a rural funding boost, as small community groups win grants to help keep their towns ticking over. Alstonville, Burringbar, Nimbin, Gleniffer, Urunga, Grafton, Valla Beach, Iluka and Wilsons Creek are among 20 New South Wales projects sharing $290,986 in the latest round of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal’s flagship Strengthening Rural Communities program. Nationally, the Foundation is handing more than $1 million to 71 community-led projects worth over $2.4 million once matched by local funding and effort.
The biggest single North Coast grant is heading to Alstonville, where Namatjira Haven has been awarded $30,300 to build digital leadership and governance skills for its board members and local Elders.
FRRR’s head of granting, Jill Karena, said backing local ideas and strengthening smaller, more isolated communities was at the heart of the program.
“We’re proud to support these practical, locally-led initiatives that will help strengthen and sustain communities,” Karena said. “No two places or their priorities are the same, but common activities include upgrades to shared facilities, emergency preparedness, digital inclusion, arts and culture, and health or social participation initiatives.”
Further south, Burringbar Community Association is putting $9,300 towards extending its UHF radio network to close emergency communication black spots, while the Urunga branch of the Country Women’s Association is spending $9,453 upgrading toilet facilities for greater accessibility.
Grafton’s The Long Way Home is using $3,000 to publish local stories from a community writing competition, and Valla Community Preschool is installing rainwater tanks with a $10,000 grant to support nature-based learning. Iluka’s Community Organisation Planning for Emergencies is running weekly wellbeing activities under its Circle of Friends program, and Wilsons Creek’s community association is holding listening workshops under its Murmurations project, each backed by $10,000.
“Congratulations to all the groups that put so much effort into planning these projects. I look forward to reading about the impacts as they come to life in the coming months,” Karena said.
The Strengthening Rural Communities program is always open, offering three streams of funding: a Small and Vital stream of grants up to $10,000 for projects that strengthen community connections, a Larger Leverage stream of grants up to $50,000 focused on digital literacy and connectivity, and a Prepare and Recover stream of grants up to $25,000 for local preparedness, recovery and resilience-building initiatives.
The full list of funded projects is available at frrr.org.au/blog/2026/08/27/src-round-29
Something going on in your part of the North Coast people should know about? Let us know by emailing newsdesk@nctimes.com.au