Council introduced the Environmental Levy as a means of undertaking environmental management works. The levy currently raises around $1.3 million per annum for local environmental works at an average cost of $44 per rate payer.
Council recognises the value and importance in providing an environmental program that offers and delivers opportunities to help sustain and improve the local environment.
The Environmental Levy Policy provides a framework for how the new method for the allocation of funds will work.
The Environmental Levy is allocated in two streams: 75 per cent of the fund is allocated to Major Strategic Projects and 25 per cent to the Environmental Levy Grants program.
Applications are now open for the 2019/20 Environmental Levy Grants Program. Grants are available of between $2,000 and $25,000 are available and community groups are encouraged to apply. Applicants should read the Environmental Levy Policy and the Environmental Levy Grants Program Guidelines before then filling in the application form. For further information call Council's Grants Administration Officer on 02 6648 4278. Application close 5pm Friday April 12, 2019.
Environmental Levy Major Strategic Projects for 2018/19:
| CHCC | Conservation & Sustainable Management of Biodiversity | 120,000 |
| CHCC | Environmental Levy Coordination | 64,993 |
| CHCC | Improving Diversity within CHCC Bushland Reserves | 233,190 |
| CHCC | Management of Key Environmental Weeds within Council Managed Lands | 116,600 |
| CHCC | Community Sustainable Living Program | 100,000 |
| CHCC | North Coast Regional Botanic Garden Education Officer | 20,000 |
| Orara Valley Rivercare Groups Management Committee | Orara River Rehabilitation Project | 200,000 |
| Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare | Supporting Community Landcare Action in the Coffs Harbour LGA | 190,328 |
Environmental Levy Grants - Round One
Successful projects from round one of the 2018/19 Environmental Levy Grants Program:
| Jetty Dunecare | Restore and enhance the natural environment at Boambee Beach | 25,000 |
| Jetty Dunecare | Restore and enhance the natural environment of the Jetty Foreshores | 25,000 |
| Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Lands Council | Community and culture bush regeneration works | 25,000 |
| Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare | Growing Our Future 2018/19 | 20,790 |
| EnviTE | Koala habitat rehabilitation and community education | 23,000 |
| University of Sydney | Understanding the impacts of housing infrastructure on kangaroo movement patterns | 24,746 |
| Sandy Beach Action Group | Revegetation - open drain line | 2,000 |
| Southern Cross University | Investigating soil chemistry on intensive horticulture sites and in association with dam sediments | 25,000 |
| EnviTE | Community Supporting Land for Wildlife Initiative | 8,832 |
| Nana Glen Landcare Group | What water bugs (aquatic macroinvertebrates) can tell us about river health in agricultural areas | 16,000 |
| Southern Cross University | Improving water quality downstream of blueberry farms | 25,000 |
| South Coffs Community Gardens | Install stand-alone off grid solar PV system with batteries | 16,862 |
Environmental Levy Grants - Round Two
Successful projects from round two of the 2018/19 Environmental Levy Grants Program:
| Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Lands Council | Caring for Country - restoring littoral rainforest on Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Lands Council owned land | 7,840 |
| Envite | Coffs Coast Native Seedbank Network | 10,993 |
| Southern Cross University | Investigating trace metal transport mechanisms along an intensive horticulture catchment | 25,000 |
| South Coffs Community Garden | Native bee pollinators and support plantings | 2,832 |
| Southern Cross University | Nutrient transport in headwater streams surrounded by intensive horticulture | 25,000 |
| Envite | Pandanus dieback recovery project in Coffs Harbour Local Government Area | 24,994 |
| Nana Glen Landcare | Rehabilitating the Coldwater Creek Travelling Stock Reserve (TSR39744) | 25,000 |
| Nana Glen Sport, Recreation and Equestrian Centre Management Committee | Removing dead camphor laurel trees at the Nana Glen Sport, Recreation and Equestrian Centre | 5,000 |
| Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare | Revegetating the headwaters or Coffs Creek for wildlife and water quality | 5,000 |
