Byron Shire Council has awarded more than $57,000 in funding to 19 community organisations through its Community Initiatives Program 2025/26, supporting a diverse range of grassroots projects across the Shire.
The successful projects will deliver benefits across the environment, arts and culture, youth engagement and social inclusion.
"This year we received a record 39 applications for an incredible variety of community-focused initiatives," Council's Community Project Officer, Malcolm Foard said.
"This funding program shines a light on the breadth and depth of community work, mostly voluntary, happening across our Shire. These projects reflect the passion and dedication of our local non-profits, cultural, sporting, and social groups.
"We know that small grants can make a big impact. Council is proud to provide seed funding for innovative and inspirational projects that meet real community needs," he said.
The projects, to be delivered through the Community Initiatives Program by June 2026 include:
Wildlife Transport Network ($4,500): This project aims to recruit, train, and support community volunteers to safely transport injured and orphaned wildlife from veterinary clinics across the Byron Shire to Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital for specialist care.
Disabled Surfers Association of Australia ($4,000): A new smaller, efficient trailer to hold necessary equipment to support volunteer drivers, who do not have a heavy vehicle license. The trailer will be used to facilitate events in the Northern Rivers.
Federal Landcare Group ($1,500): The Camphor Conversion to Rainforest project will undertake more camphor removal/injection and replanting on Crown land in Federal. This area is used by pedestrians exercising, walking their dogs and enjoying the safety of walking in an area that is away from the roads.
Broken Head Hall Safety Lighting Project ($1,030): This project will address the safety and security of hall users by installing sensor activated lighting to illuminate the onsite carpark and entry to the hall.
Sprung Dance Theatre ($4,000): Ensemble Theatre Training is a disability-led dance program for deaf and disabled artists in the Northern Rivers. The program will build skills, confidence, creative expression and network led by local disabled artists.
The Australian Pro Adaptive Surfing Championships ($4,000): This annual professional tour event is hosted in Byron Bay. The funds requested will support the purchase of necessary beach matting, with athletes competing across several disciplines including spinal cord injury, neurological impairment, blind and vision impairment, and amputees.
Byron Bay Community Centre ($4,000): This project will improve safety, accessibility, and functionality in the Byron Community Centre, by installing a handrail along the upper level and stairways, to support seniors, patrons with disability, and the broader public.
Mullumbimby Community Food Box ($1,000): Provision of cheap and/or free groceries, fruit and vegetables to vulnerable community members. Funding is sought to cover the freight costs associated with transporting products from Foodbank (Brisbane).
Federal Halls New Chairs ($2,500): Purchasing of 120 plastic chairs in need of replacing, to support the Hall operations. Additional fund raising will also enable the purchase of additional chairs required.
Broken Head Society Inc ($3,148): A portable defibrillator will be purchased to support the operations of the Broken Head Community Resilience Team, with the only other defibrillator located 10 minutes' drive away and only accessible during office hours.
Byron Bay Bridge Club ($1,500): BRIDGE2U, is a community outreach project offering low-cost bridge lessons and games in local rest homes and schools. This project will fosters lifelong learning and intergenerational connection, using bridge to bring people together across all ages and backgrounds.
Raise the heART ($4,300): STRONG MOB is a four-day Indigenous-led arts and healing gathering, featuring a multi-artist Bundjalung pop-up art exhibition, and the professional theatre show STRONG MOB exploring trauma and recovery, followed by a fire yarnin' circle.
Coolamon Community Inc ($2,798): A Byron-based co-designed volunteer program that supports First Nations mums and babies in Coolamon, deepening connection, purpose and pride.
Coorabell Hall Association ($3,500): A new generator to support Hall and Community Resilience Hub operations during disasters. Power outages regularly affect core amenities such as the water pump (toilets) and refrigerator(s) that store resident medicines.
Bangalow Resilience Network ($3,699): The Connecting in Disasters project aims to strengthen emergency communication capacity, by purchasing three high-powered CB radio kits, which will be strategically positioned to extend coverage, enabling messages to be relayed effectively across the network and to emergency responders.
Federal Community Children's Centre ($3,500): A biennial Family Fun Day providing an opportunity for children and families to gather together to play, connect and celebrate Federal's vibrant and inclusive community
Shara Community Gardens ($4,500): Mullum SEED will auspice this project and upgrade a number of Shara Community Gardens' aging garden beds, improving the safety, accessibility, and usability of the site.
Ethos Global Foundation ($3,650): The restoring dunes, building community project aims to re-establish the New Brighton Dunecare Group to provide care and education for the new Brighton and South Golden Beach foredune and build on local coastal resilience.
Mullumbimby Sustainable Education and Enterprise Development ($375): Northern Rivers Communities of Care project will assist in developing greater personal and community resilience in response to past natural disasters, by developing a 'community of care' network across the region, that supports those managing anxiety, stress, depression, and mental health.
