Community Environment Grant recipients with the Mayor and Councillors at the award presentation. Not all were able to attend the event.
23 July 2025
Bega Valley Shire Council today funded 18 projects under its Community Grants Program.
At a presentation this morning, Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick said it was great to be able to fund 11 community environment projects and seven waste prevention and innovation projects.
"The Community Environment Grants are for projects to protect, restore or enhance our wetlands, coastal foreshores, riverbanks and wildlife corridors, or provide innovative environmental education," Mayor Fitzpatrick said.
"The Waste Prevention and Innovation Grants are for projects that educate and encourage sustainable waste management behaviours, such as avoiding and reducing waste generation, increasing recycling, diverting more waste from landfill, managing problem waste better, and reducing litter and illegal dumping.
"In addition to funding provided to projects, in-kind support will be provided to the Rotary Club of Pambula for its 'Bin-spiration for Pambula Markets' project, where a bin station will be available to the public to separate waste, recycling and FOGO.
"Congratulations to the dedicated people behind these remarkable organisations. We thank you for taking the time to put forward submissions to support your projects and improve our environment.
"It's great to see thoughtful and innovative waste-minimising ideas coming from local community groups and that our local environment continues to be a priority for those living in the Bega Valley."
Community Environment Grant
- Beauty Point Bushcare will plant native trees, purchase tools and engage a bush regeneration contractor to control weeds beyond the capacity of the volunteers: $4,064
- Bermagui Dune Care will continue its rehabilitation work on Setons Headland and Cuttagee Point: $6,000
- Bermagui Flora and Fauna Reserve Land Manager will remove Sweet Pittosporum and replant with species native to the area: $6,000
- Bega River and Wetlands Landcare Group will continue its rehabilitation work and habitat enhancement of the Bega River and Spenco wetland: $5,925
- Eden Access Centre will purchase and install galvanised mesh to the existing northern fence to reduce rubbish entering Lake Curalo: $2,591
- Friends of Glebe Wetlands will continue to enhance habitat for threatened species at Glebe Wetlands: $3,507
- Far South Coast Landcare Association will support the Far South Coast Native Seedbank through the availability of seeds and providing training in seed collection: $6,000
- Far South Coast Landcare Association will also organise working bees for several environmental projects across the shire: $3,000
- Pambula Beach Landcare will use the funds to further reduce noxious weeds adjacent to significant environmental assets along Pambula Beach: $6,000
- Pambula Wetlands and Heritage Project will restore Pambula River riparian health through targeted weed control: $6,000
- Renewable Bermagui will run a free community workshop series on energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability: $5,431.
Waste Prevention and Innovation Grant
- Bermagui Preschool will construct a composting hub, run workshops and organise a Costa visit for children, volunteers and businesses: $5,000
- Good Cup - Good Reusables will build on its successful Bermagui project and help cafes in Pambula and Tathra eliminate single-use coffee cups: $4,698
- Makers Room will use its funds for Junk to Joy, an art-based educational, after-school program for students to reuse everyday waste items and transform them into junk and run three creative adult sessions: $4,000
- Pip Media will run seasonal household waste reduction workshops teaching practical skills in composting, food production, plastic-free households, food preservation and resource-sharing: $4,957
- Recycle Wall – Bermagui will provide a recycling wall to drop off hard-to-recycle items such as batteries, bread tags and pens, in a central community location: $1,760
- Wolumla Public School will have one TerraCycle unit per term dedicated to recycling soft plastics for the next two years: $1,673
- Wyndham Men's Shed will use the funds to purchase materials and equipment fundamental to its objective of reducing the number of useful household items going to landfill by fixing them: $2,912.
"A total of $79,518 will be shared by the 18 projects which will be delivered over the next 12 months," Mayor Fitzpatrick said.
