City of Coffs Harbour 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.
We recognise 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 sets out the framework for how the funds are allocated.
The Environmental Levy is allocated in two streams: 75% of the fund is allocated to Major Strategic Projects and 25% to the Environmental Levy Grants program.
Environmental Levy Grants Program
Under the Program, grants are available to community organisations for projects starting from 1 July each financial year, worth between $2,000 and $25,000 per project.
The objectives of the Environmental Levy Grants Program are to ensure that the allocation of Environmental Levy funds support the achievement of the MyCoffs Community Strategic Plan - A natural environment sustained for the future:
- We protect the diversity of our natural environment (C2.1)
- We use resources responsibly to support a safe and stable climate (C2.2)
For more information, view the Environmental Levy Policy and Environmental Levy Grants Program Guidelines.
Applications for the 2024/2025 Environmental Levy Grants Program are now closed.
Environmental Levy major strategic projects and programs
Major Strategic projects and programs funded by the Environmental Levy are long term and strategically important. They are included in the four-year Delivery Program adopted by Council.
Environmental Levy funding is provided by an annual allocation over the four-year term. The current Delivery Program commenced 1 July 2022.
Areas for consideration include:
- Environmental Levy Coordination
- Bush Regeneration
- Environmental Weed Management
- Biodiversity Strategies
- Waterway Health Initiatives
- Coastal Initiatives
- Environmental Education
- Environmental Health and Water Quality Research Initiatives
Projects and programs may be delivered by City of Coffs Harbour or in partnership with or through community organisations, research institutions and/or other government bodies.
Environmental Levy Major Strategic Projects for 2023/24:
|
Applicant
|
Project Name
|
Amount ($)
|
|
City of Coffs Harbour
|
Conservation & Sustainable Management of the Natural Environment
|
164,902
|
|
City of Coffs Harbour
|
Environmental Levy Coordination
|
66,240
|
|
City of Coffs Harbour
|
Improving Diversity within CHCC Bushland Reserves
|
186,300
|
|
City of Coffs Harbour
|
Management of Key Environmental Weeds within Council Managed Lands
|
104,535
|
|
City of Coffs Harbour
|
Community Sustainable Living Program
|
150,810
|
| City of Coffs Harbour |
Park Beach Dune Reduction |
100,000 |
| City of Coffs Harbour |
Hearnes Lake Taskforce |
70,000 |
| City of Coffs Harbour |
Great Koala National Park Support |
15,000 |
|
Jetty Dunecare Inc
|
Boambee Creek to Coffs Creek: Rehabilitation of coastal corridor connections
|
100,000
|
|
Orara Valley Rivercare Groups Management Committee
|
Orara River Rehabilitation Project
|
231,782
|
|
Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare
|
Supporting Community Landcare Action in the Coffs Harbour LGA
|
251,900
|
|
Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance
|
Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance program support
|
15,060
|
|
Total
|
|
1,456,529
|
Successful Projects 2023/24 Environmental Levy Grants Program Round One:
|
Applicant
|
Project Name
|
Amount ($)
|
|
Bakker Drive Reserve Friends of the Park Group
|
Turning a paddock into a park
|
3,220
|
|
Cochrans Pool Urumbilum Rivercare Group
|
Restoring the Magic to the Magic Pools on the Orara River
|
25,000
|
|
Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council
|
Improving Our Coast - Part 4
|
25,000
|
|
Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council
|
Improving Garlambirla Bushlands along the Coffs Creek
|
25,000
|
|
Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare
|
Growing Our Future 2023/2024
|
24,988
|
|
Community Association of Sapphire Beachfront Estate
|
Improve water quality discharged from detention basin onto Campbells Beach
|
5,000
|
|
First Light Farm
|
Stage 1 - Habitat Corridor between Conservation Zone and Corindi Creek riparian zone
|
5,000
|
|
Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance
|
Jaliigirr Threatened Ecological Community Restoration: Littoral Rainforest
|
25,000
|
|
Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance
|
Jaliigirr Threatened Ecological Community Restoration: Lowland Rainforest
|
25,000
|
|
Julie Johnson
|
Stage 2 - Corindi Creek Riparian Restoration
|
5,000
|
|
Nana Glen Landcare Group
|
Rehabilitation of Nana Glen Travelling Stock Reserve (R39744) Stage III
|
15,000
|
|
Ngiyambandigay Wajaar Aboriginal Corporation
|
Mangrove habitat and health
|
18,958
|
|
OzGREEN
|
Rethink Waste Coffs Harbour
|
24,998
|
|
Sandy Beach Action Group
|
Revegetation and maintenance of Sandy Beach Reserve
|
19,300
|
|
Sandy Beach Action Group
|
Rain event water monitoring of stormwater outlets on housing developments that drain to Hearnes Lake (variation approved November 2023)
|
9,421
|
|
Southern Cross University
|
Investigating the toxicity of waters from Charlesworth Bay
|
25,000
|
|
Southern Cross University, National Marine Science Centre
|
Stormwater discharge impacts on cultural resources in Coffs northern estuaries
|
19,985
|
|
Tallowood Ventures
|
Giant Barred Frog Mixophyes Iteratus habitat and community awareness program
|
4,900
|
|
Workways Australia t/a Envite Environment
|
Coffs Harbour Native Seedbank Network
|
17,138
|
|
Workways Australia t/a Envite Environment
|
Koala habitat enhancement Toormina/Boambee East
|
25,000
|
|
Total
|
|
362,908
|
Successful Projects 2023/24 Environmental Levy Grants Program Round Two
|
Applicant
|
Project Name
|
Amount ($)
|
|
Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare
|
Focus on native Flora and Fauna 2023-2024
|
19,620
|
|
Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare
|
Korora Landcare Nest Box Project
|
5,460
|
|
Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare
|
Macro-invertebrates in focus
|
5,475
|
|
Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare
|
Park Beach Littoral Rainforest Regeneration
|
3,600
|
|
Coffs Regional Community Gardens Association
|
Sustainability Workshops for Coffs Community
|
17,200
|
|
Nana Glen Landcare Group
|
Invertebrate Water Study of Local Waterways
|
5,000
|
|
National Parks Association of NSW, Coffs Coast Branch
|
Citizen science ecological education for local community volunteers
|
25,000
|
|
Total
|
|
81,355
|