Coffs ratepayers hit by giant barred frog tax
It’s about to get a little easier being green west of Coffs Harbour on the back of a cash splash to nurture a population of giant frogs. Where your money is going:
Coffs Harbour
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coffs Harbour. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Coffs Harbour ratepayers will be pinged $44 each on average to fund a number of nature projects - including works aimed at helping a little known frog in a lesser known area.
The great barred frog is recognised as endangered by both the state and federal governments, but it is found in creeks and rivers around the Ulong/Lowanna area, as well as in some of the villages, west of Coffs.
The save the frog project is being driven by the Glenreagh Mountain Railway group, which has won nearly $24,000 in the latest round of council’s environmental levy grant funding.
The group will use the cash to undertake habitat restoration caused by erosion from flooding, as well as conduct tree planting and ‘frog-friendly’ weed control.
It also plans to run a local education program on the great barred frog with school and community groups.
Projects aimed at improving the lot of the glossy black cockatoo and koalas have also found favour.
“It’s fantastic to be able to support important, local, community-led initiatives like this through the environmental levy program,” Coffs deputy mayor Sally Townley said.
“The Glenreagh Mountain Railway group and all the bodies that carry out the very diverse projects supported by these funds deserve congratulations.”
So too do the ratepayers who are carrying the can for the works.
Council introduced the environmental levy as a means of encouraging local residents and organisations to undertake environmental management and improvement works.
The levy currently raises around $1.5 million a year at an average cost of $44 per ratepayer, of which approximately $370,000 is available to community groups.
In the latest funding round eight community groups will share in a total of $167,832.
Community-based organisations and individuals interested in helping to improve or sustain nature projects can apply for grants - worth between $2000 and $25,000 - through the scheme.
The nine projects which have won funding are:
* $23,990 - giant barred frog habitat restoration - Glenreagh Mountain Railway
* $25,000 - glossy black cockatoo conservation project - Jaliigirr Biodiversity Alliance
* $25,000 - Improving Our Coast, Part 3 - Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council
* $25,000 - Growing Our Future 2022/2023 - Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare
* $25,000 - Koala Corridor Improvement in Boambee East/Toormina - Envite Environment (Workways Australia)
* $12,000 - Rehabilitating the Coldwater Creek Travelling Stock Reserve, maintenance phase - Nana Glen Landcare Group
* $5000 - Koala Education Kit, primary schools - National Parks and Wildlife Service
* $10,350 - Revegetation and maintenance of Sandy Beach Reserve - Sandy Beach Action Group; and
* $16,492 - Coffs Harbour Native Seedbank Network - Envite Environment (Workways Australia).
Patient allegedly raped elderly man, attacked health staffer
A young man admitted to a general ward of a Mid-North Coast hospital allegedly raped an elderly male patient before assaulting a health worker, with the entire incident filmed by another patient.
‘Enormous reputational damage’: Council evicts its own museum
A Northern Rivers council wanting to better manage their assets has reneged on an agreed lease to allow its museum to return – leaving the organisation homeless and precious artefacts sitting idly in shipping containers.