Featured programs

Expressions of Interest sought for Koala Advisory Group

Council adopted the Bellingen Shire Coastal Area Koala Management Strategy in 2017. This strategy includes a number of management actions designed to ensure a permanent free living population of koalas in Bellingen Shire and to reverse the current trend of koala population decline.

To assist with the implementation of the strategy Council is establishing a Koala Advisory Group which will include representatives from both Local and State Government and members of the community.

Expressions of interest from community members wishing to be a part of the Koala Working Group are...
Read: Expressions of Interest sought for Koala Advisory Group

New tool to assess your digital fitness

Small businesses can now take advantage of a new digital diagnostic tool that has been developed for the Australian Small Business Advisory Service to help business owners understand the changing environment and identify gaps and opportunities to grow their enterprise.

The assessment tool takes a business owner through a series of questions from which priorities are identified.  This information is then used to design a quality action plan that highlights areas in addressing future business needs.

The Australian Small Business Advisory Service is an initiative of the Federal...
Read: New tool to assess your digital fitness

Winter Upgrades completed at Bellingen and Dorrigo Swim Centres

Council has invested close to $100,000 during the winter off-season to undertake major improvements at both Dorrigo and Bellingen Swimming Pools.

The works at Dorrigo included a complete replacement of the old filtration system along with a new and more efficient water pump. Due to the size and structure of the old cast iron filtration tank, the filtration shed roof had to be removed to enable a crane to lift it out.

This work follows a number of improvements carried out at Dorrigo Pool over recent years including the installation of a disabled toilet and shower, the erection...
Read: Winter Upgrades completed at Bellingen and Dorrigo Swim Centres

Bellingen Street Lights to go LED

Over six hundred and seventy (670) streetlights across the Bellingen Shire are set to be replaced with LEDs, saving Council an estimated $76,000 per year. This will reduce the energy used by the Shire’s street lights by more than a quarter.

The new lights will save enough electricity to power about 16 homes for a year and the reduction in carbon emissions will be the same as planting about 1600 trees.

Bellingen Shire Mayor, Cr. Dominic King said “Changing our street lights to LED is a fantastic outcome for our Shire. It gives us significant cost and energy savings and reduces...
Read: Bellingen Street Lights to go LED

Bellingen Food Blog

In partnership with Bellingen Shire Council and Destination NSW, renowned foodie and author Lorraine Elliott recently ate her way through Bellingen restaurants to produce a mouth-watering food blog. 

Follow her journey at:  http://www.notquitenigella.com/2018/08/20/bellingen-food-things-to-do/
Read: Bellingen Food Blog

Wanted - Your Happy Snaps of life in the Bellingen Shire

As part of Council’s Growth Management Study, ‘Homes for Our Future’, Project, Bellingen Shire Council wants to see what our residents love about their neighbourhood and what makes them smile in their street.

It’s no secret that visitors love the festivals, cafes, galleries and sustainable living but we want to know what the locals value and what makes it special to them.

So grab your camera and send your best shots to: happysnaps@bellingen.nsw.gov.au along with your full name, email address and phone number. 

...
Read: Wanted - Your Happy Snaps of life in the Bellingen Shire

Increased funding for Local Heritage Assistance Grant Program

In response to the unprecedented number of applications for funding under the Local Heritage Assistance Fund grant program, Bellingen Shire Mayor, Cr Dominic King advised that Council has approved a significant increase in its financial contribution for the 2018-2019 Fund.

This year, in line with the adopted Heritage Strategy 2017-2020, Council undertook a targeted campaign to encourage property owners of commercial buildings within the Bellingen Conservation Area to apply for funding towards restoration and conservation works on their buildings.

Examples of projects eligible...
Read: Increased funding for Local Heritage Assistance Grant Program

Inclusive Tourism and Disability Awareness Training

Did you know that 1 in 3 customers with a disability have ceased a financial transaction because they were not treated respectfully or fairly? This equates to around one billion dollars a year in lost sales across Australia.

With the recent roll out of Inclusive Tourism Workshops across the Shire, attending businesses received a great insight in to the dynamics and value of the Inclusive Tourism market. The workshops were conducted by Inclusive Tourism Pty Ltd who specialise in consulting with tourism associations and businesses on how to make their businesses and destinations more...
Read: Inclusive Tourism and Disability Awareness Training

North Coast Tourism Awards & Tourism Symposium

The North Coast Tourism Awards and the North Coast Tourism Symposium will be held in Coffs Harbour on Wednesday 25 July 2018.

The Awards will recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievement of tourism operators across the region, featuring more than thirteen categories. The judging process is now complete and finalists have been notified.  Bellingen Shire has a number of tourism businesses who have made it through to the finals. Congratulations to those businesses and good luck at the Awards.

The Tourism Symposium will include presenters from: National Parks and Wildlife...
Read: North Coast Tourism Awards & Tourism Symposium

Fees and Charges at Council Waste Transfer Stations

Over recent years Council has made significant upgrades at its Waste Management Facilities.  

From 1 July 2018 there will be changes in the way fees are charged at the waste facilities. 

Three main changes are:

Rural residents who have access rights associated with the waste management fee levied under the NSW Local Government Act 1993, will receive in the post a Waste Facility Access Charge card. If you have not received your card by mid July and believe you are entitled to one – please contact Council.  This card allows rural residents to dispose of domestic waste...
Read: Fees and Charges at Council Waste Transfer Stations

Pages

From time to time, Bellingen Shire Council will feature different programs and information. The articles will be featured on the home page and are listed below: