Community Initiatives Grant

The projects, to be delivered by June 2025 include: 

• Byron Dune Care ($1,200): The Green and Clean Awareness Project will help with protection and regeneration of the dunes and surrounding area at Clarkes and Main Beach, Byron Bay.
• Brunswick Valley Landcare ($4,970): The Junior Landcare Project will facilitate an exciting intergenerational transfer of place-based knowledge and skills in ecological restoration to help protect and enhance the ecology of the Byron Shire. Workshops and events will be held at schools across the area.
• The Pocket Public School P&C ($2,500): Summer in the Pocket is an inclusive community gathering at the local primary school focusing on community connection and resilience. 
• Coorabell Hall Association ($3,160): This project will see a defibrillator installed at the Hall and training provided to community members and hirers ensuring the hall is a safe space for all.
• Federal Landcare Group ($5,000): The Camphor Conversion to Rainforest Project seeks to reforest and regenerate public spaces with endemic rainforest "Big Scrub" species. The staged project involves removal and mulching of camphor laurel trees and replanting with native rainforest trees and shrubs.
• Byron Community Centre – trustee for the Byron Bay Community Benefit Fund ($5,000): The Elder Beats – Rhythm and Dance for Seniors Project is committed to combating social isolation and promoting wellbeing among older adults in the Byron Shire. The Project will include monthly dance classes, group djembe drumming sessions and provide opportunities for seniors to connect, play, exercise, learn, and share experiences.
• Cape Byron Marine Rescue ($5,000): The Communications Infrastructure Project will allow for a staged upgrade to vital communications equipment. This will enhance communication capabilities, ensuring reliability and operational readiness during extreme weather conditions and natural disasters events. 
• Federal Community Centre – ($2,500):  Federal Park Party 2024 is a valued community gathering celebrating unity and resilience by bringing diverse groups and services together to connect over activities for all ages. 
• The Returning Indigenous Corporation - ($5,000): The Stories of Matriarchal Bundjalung Project aims to record and collate stories of Bundjalung Country into a book or printed resource. The publication will celebrate the stories, culture and lineage of Bundjalung community and invites both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, to learn from the past so that we can reshape our future together.
• Suffolk Park Community Garden Inc ($5,000): The Community Garden Project aims to redesign the grounds to create a more inviting space, attract new members, hold educational workshops, and grow to become a focal point for the Suffolk Park community. 
• Eureka Public Hall ($5,000): The Community Access Project aims to significantly enhance the accessibility and usability of Eureka Hall by undertaking critical repairs to the driveway leading to the hall's carpark and emergency access point. Located at the rear of the hall, the carpark is a vital facility for visitors, volunteers, and emergency services.
• Main Arm Upper Public School ($5,000): Music in the Valley Festival is family-friendly music and arts festival held. The festival features a diverse lineup of local and national talent, including popular children's entertainment, established musicians, and community performers. The festival provides a safe and inclusive environment where families and individuals can enjoy live music, engage in cultural activities, and participate in community-building experiences.
• Dance Integrated Australia - auspiced by Arts Northern Rivers ($5,000): The PH(R)ASE//:1: project is an exciting new initiative aimed at revitalising the dance sector. This 3-day Pitch Lab facilitated by Miranda Wheen and Katina Olsen (Wakka Wakka / Kombumerri) engages both local and visiting dance artists. Led by Philip Channells (Dance Integrated Australia) with support from Kathleen (Sarah) Bolt (Nini Nahri-Gali), the project addresses the needs of local dance practitioners, encompassing physical theatre and experimental performance.
• Ewingsdale Community Association ($3,170): The Revitalising Ewingsdale Hall project aims to enhance the hall by installing heating and cooling systems. 

• Incorporated organisations with an ABN or proof that you are not required to be registered for GST.
• Not-for-profits.
• Indigenous corporations.
• Auspiced groups.

1. What is an incorporated organisation?

An incorporated organisation is a community group that has registered as a legal entity, that is separate from the individual members. You cannot register as an incorporated organisation if you are planning to operate as a business or to provide monetary gains to members.

2. What is an auspice arrangement?

An auspice arrangement is when a larger organisation supports a smaller organisation to apply for a grant if they don’t meet the criteria to apply themselves. For the Community Initiatives grant, the organisation applying needs to be incorporated, if they aren’t, they will need to be auspiced by an organisation that is.

3. Can I apply for the same project several years in a row?

Council has a preference that funding will not continue beyond three years for the same event or project. This allows us to support other emerging and start-up projects.

4. Will late applications be accepted?

Any applications received after the advertised closing date may be deemed ineligible. The online system will not accept applications submitted after the advertised closing date of 16 May 2025. If you have problems submitting your application, you should contact the Community Development team on 02 6626 7000 at least two business days before the deadline to seek assistance.

5. Do I need to finish the application in one go?

No. Applications may be saved, revisited and edited before being submitted.

6. How can I confirm that my application has been submitted?

Once you click submit, you’ll receive a confirmation email. The confirmation email will contain a copy of your application and will be sent to the email you nominated in the application. Please check that you receive the confirmation email and retain it as a record of your application. If you do not receive a confirmation email, your application may not have been successfully submitted or the confirmation email may have ended up in your email junk folder.

7. We don’t have an ABN - what should we do?

If your organisation does not have an ABN, you will need to complete a Statement by a Supplier form and upload it with your application.

8. What should I include in my budget?

Your budget should:

Be GST exclusive
Include a breakdown of expected income, including any in-kind contributions or other funding sources. Include a breakdown of expected expenditure, including specifying which items you intend to purchase with Byron Shire Council grant funds.
Balance. Please note, total income must equal total expenditure.

9. What documents should I include with my application? 

You must provide:

• Evidence of not-for-profit status
• Project budget using Council’s template.  

10. Can I include other documents?

Yes. You may also attach other relevant documents if you wish, for example letters of support from the community, your organisation's annual reports or evidence of public liability insurance. 

11. What happens after applications close?

Applications are reviewed for general eligibility and then are assessed by a panel.

Applicants will be formally notified of the outcome of their application after the 28 August 2025 Council Meeting. It is an applicant’s responsibility to ensure all contact details are up to date.

12. What Council acknowledgement is required for my project?

All recipients of funding are required to acknowledge Byron Shire Council’s contribution of financial support. As part of your funding agreement organisations agree to acknowledge the Council’s support in material published in connection with your project. A copy of Council’s logo will be provided to successful applicants.

Please contact the Community Development team on 02 6626 7000 or email communityservices@byron.nsw.gov.au if you have any questions.

• Bringing people and community organisations together.
• Celebrating a sense of identity, diversity and cultural connection within the community.
• Improving community health and social wellbeing.
• Helping people to develop the skills and confidence to contribute to community life.
• Enhancing places where communities gather.
• Increasing access and inclusion for people who are vulnerable or disadvantaged.