Community Grants and Environment Levy Community Fund Now Open
Published on 11 April 2025
Bellingen Shire Council is excited to announce that Round 1 of the Community Grants Program and the Environment Levy Community Fund (ELCF) 2025-26 are officially open, offering local groups, creatives and organisations an opportunity to bring their community project ideas to life.
Mayor Cr. Steve Allan stated, “The Community Grants Program and the Environment Levy Community Fund are fantastic opportunities for local groups, creatives, and organisations to bring their ideas to life. Whether it’s through vibrant public art, community support initiatives, events or sustainability projects, the funding aims to enhance creativity, connectedness, cultural awareness and celebration, as well as drive important environmental initiatives that enhance biodiversity, protect our natural landscapes, and build a more sustainable future.''
Available funding categories include:
Our Community Development Officer and Sustainability Officer will be hosting drop-in sessions at each of the Shire Libraries to offer guidance and support for your application. This is a great opportunity to discuss your ideas and get expert advice to enhance your chances of success.
Library Drop-In Sessions Schedule:
Dorrigo Library - Wednesday 16 April 2025, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Bellingen Library - Thursday 17 April 2025, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Urunga Library - Thursday 17 April 2025, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
We highly recommend seeking advice before applying to gain a clear understanding of the expectations and how to strengthen your application. If you're unable to attend any of the drop-in sessions, the Community Development Officer and Sustainability Officer are available for assistance during Council business hours on 6655 7300.
Bellingen Shire Council has provided a significant boost to local community projects, awarding $75,000 in funding through the Community Grants Program and the Environment Levy Community Fund. The funding supported 26 projects across the region, ranging from community workshops and events to training programs, structural improvements, and environmental regeneration efforts.
Among the recipients was The Full Circle Collective, which used the funding to deliver the Conscious Christmas on the Plateau initiative in Dorrigo. The program, aimed at fostering creativity and sustainability, hosted workshops teaching textile upcycling and waste reduction.
“We are incredibly grateful to Bellingen Shire Council for supporting Conscious Christmas on the Plateau,” said project lead Siobhan Donges. “Our ornament-making workshops helped children and adults develop textile upcycling skills, raise awareness about waste impact, strengthen community connections, and promote circular economy principles.”
Donges said Council’s support for grassroots projects was vital in sustaining local creative and sustainable initiatives.
In Urunga, the Bellingen Street Landcare Group received funding through the Environment Levy Community Fund for a regeneration project targeting a threatened ecological community.
“When we started the project, the site was so thick with weeds that it was completely inaccessible,” said project coordinator Jenny Sewell. “The funding enabled us to bring in a professional bush regeneration contractor to manage the weeds, allowing volunteers to expand their efforts with regular working bees.
“We’ve gained invaluable bush regeneration skills and have been able to watch native seedlings emerge as the site’s natural beauty returns.”
Council supported a wide array of initiatives received funding under the 2024/25 grants, including:
- URUNGAlights and Carols
- Taranta Festival
- Bellingen Youth Orchestra’s free performances of Peter and the Wolf: Orchestral Magic for Young Hearts
- Bellingen Shire Arts Trail Weekend
- Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival
- Camp Creative
- The Great Fashion Stitch Up
- Training and equipment for Urunga Surf Life Saving Club and Dorrigo Men’s Shed
Upcoming funded events under these programs include the 2025 Bellingen Show, the E.J. Mantova Art Prize, the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival Schools Program, and the Fringe Festival at Maam Gaduying Park.
Bellingen Shire Mayor Cr Steve Allan said the funding reflects Council’s commitment to supporting local projects that benefit the community.
"We are proud to invest in initiatives that strengthen our community and create lasting positive impacts for generations to come," he said.
The Community Grants Program and the Environment Levy Community Fund continue to play a crucial role in fostering sustainability, creativity, and community engagement across the Bellingen Shire.
If you have an idea that can enrich our community and contribute to a creative, connected and sustainable Bellingen Shire, now is your chance to apply. For more details and to submit your application, visit: https://www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au/Community/Grants-and-Funding
Applications close 7 May 2025 at 5pm.
Image of URUNGAlights Carols 2024 courtesy of Bruce Miller, Urunga Business and Community.