Lake Inverell and Ashford Cemetery Amenities Upgrade

The project will see the construction of new wheelchair-accessible amenities at Lake Inverell Reserve, on the eastern outskirts of Inverell, and Ashford Cemetery, in the shire's north. The project will benefit more than 70 per cent of the LGA's population and provide a more enjoyable experience to more than 3,000 visitors to Inverell Shire each year.

$408,220

Inverell Shire Council

Inverell Pump Track

This project will construct a concrete pump track in community parkland located on the edge of Inverell CBD. The site adjoins Inverell's town-wide cycleway, skatepark and riverside parklands. The project will contribute to Inverell LGA's disaster recovery by restoring social and physical wellbeing.

$432,667

Inverell Shire Council

Build a resilient and regenerative farming community in Tenterfield

The 2019-20 bushfires destroyed over 235,000 hectares in Tenterfield, or roughly a third of the total LGA. This project will engage the community in implementing regenerative agriculture practices to build a more resilient landscape and support local businesses. A Landcare Regenerative Agriculture Officer will lead a series of training events and workshops on innovation, diversification, the marketing of farm produce, and coping with future challenges. These will take place in person and online.

$220,000

Tenterfield Shire Council

New England Rail Trail Stage 1 - Glen Innes to Ben Lomond

The Great Northern Rail Line between Armidale and the Queensland border has not had trains on it for 31 years. To revitalise this asset and generate economic growth through increased tourism, Glen Innes Severn Council will build Stage 1 (35.5km) of the New England Rail Trail between Glen Innes and Ben Lomond. The trail will provide a safe recreational location for cyclists and walkers, attracting around 4,000 overnight visitors and 4,000 day visitors, who will spend in excess of $1.6M annually at local businesses.

$8,721,095

Glen Innes Severn Council

Provide a water supply for Tenterfield villages

The Tenterfield Sustainable and Disaster Resilient Communities program will provide a water source, and minor reticulation activities, for the villages of Drake, Liston, Legume, and Torrington. The reticulation will predominantly service pumps for groundwater/riverwater holding tanks and standpipe delivery systems, including solar systems. The project will  improve the community's resilience and ability to prepare and respond future disasters.

$960,000

Tenterfield Shire Council

Highlands Business and Community Hub and Programs

The Highlands Business and Community Hub project will fitout a training facility to run workshops and programs, and enable more conferences and business events to be hosted in the local area. Programs conducted at the Hub will support a diversity of community needs including a start-up incubator.

$616,861

Glen Innes Severn Council

Upgrade Walcha Lions Park

This project will install new play equipment, soft fall surfaces, seating, pathways, landscaping, and perimeter fencing in Walcha Lions Park. The upgrades will complement the existing barbeque and seating area installed by Walcha Lions Club, and will make the park a safer and more welcoming place.

$410,554

Walcha Council

Renew Walcha Skate Park

This project will revitalise the Walcha State Park and surrounding precinct. It will replace existing skate ramps with skate elements for a range of abilities, provide landscaping, and install a half basketball court, seating, pathways, fencing, and surveillance technology.

$866,964

Walcha Council

Refurbish the old Uralla Courthouse

This project will refurbish the old Uralla Courthouse, a heritage building from circa 1880 and key community asset to increase visitation and amenity to the Uralla community. The refurbishment will include roof repairs, painting, furnishings, asbestos removal, and the installation of flooring, a solar power system, fencing, doors, and electrical infrastructure.

$925000

Uralla Shire Council

Bush regeneration in the Upper Clarence

This project will see bush regeneration conducted by local Aboriginal teams on three fire-damaged properties: controlling weeds, replanting native species, installing nest boxes, and reinstating fire trails. In addition, the project will recover and reinstate a burnt Aboriginal scar tree of high cultural significance and organise relevant social and educational events.

$959,952

Kyogle Shire Council, Tenterfield Shire Council

Tamworth Regional Business Activation and Resilience Program

This project will deliver a two-year program supporting businesses in the Tamworth region, which will include training in marketing, grant-writing, strategy, and financial literacy.

$368,000

Tamworth Regional Council

Deliver training programs to young people in New England

This project will provide training and experience to 30 vulnerable young people in the New England region across the agriculture, construction, asset maintenance, and fabrication sectors.

$572,760

Armidale Regional Council

Support bushfire-affected startups

This project will deliver in-depth business support to 90 of the most promising bushfire-affected startups. This will involve evidence-based training and international networking opportunities. Building off of the success of the Bega Valley Innovation Hub, the University of Wollongong will bring its iAccelerate program to 10 bushfire affected regions, including four Local Aboriginal Land Council areas.

$999,570

Bega Valley Shire Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Tamworth Regional Council,  Tweed Shire Council, Wingecarribee Shire Council

Royal Far West Bushfire Recovery Program

This program addresses the mental health impacts of the 2019-20 bushfires, addressing developmental vulnerabilities that could place children at risk of long-term adverse outcomes. Royal Far West will provide speech, occupational therapy, and clinical psychology assessments, as well as therapy for children in need of long-term clinical interventions. This expanded program will also upskill teachers and parents to better respond to future disasters.

$3,994,938

Bega Valley Shire Council, Bellingen Shire Council, Clarence Valley, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Glen Innes Severn Council, Kempsey Shire Council, Nambucca Shire Council.

Anglicare’s Road to Recovery: Building community capacity and fostering disaster resilience program

Anglicare’s Road to Recovery Program is a focused approach to engaging communities across the Shoalhaven, Queanbeyan-Palerang, and New England Local Government Areas. It will focus on hard-to-reach areas and provide individualised case management; the employment of local recovery workers; and community information sessions about post-trauma support.

$900,974

Armidale Regional Council, Glen Innes Severn Council,   Gwydir Shire Council, Inverell Shire Council, Narrabri Shire Council, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, Shoalhaven City Council, Tamworth Regional Council, Tenterfield Shire Council, Uralla Shire Council, Walcha Council

Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association: Recovery & Resilience Program

Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association’s (HVWTA) Recovery & Resilience Program is based on industry research, consultation and feedback. The program is designed to address the adverse impacts of the 2019/20 bushfires. The goal of HVWTA’s program is to retain or create local jobs and ensure the industry remains viable in the long term. This tourism campaign will aim to improve destination perception, increase consumer demand, raise sales value, and boost domestic tourism.

$900,000

Cessnock City Council,
Singleton City Council, Upper Hunter Shire Council

Improve Mt Lindesay Road

This region was significantly and directly impacted by 2019-20 bushfires and the Mt Lindesay Road serves as the only viable alternate emergency route when the New England Highway is closed. This project will fund the construction and sealing of 7.6km of Mount Lindesay Road (MR622) at two locations: Liston to Tenterfield (5.5km) and Cullendore Road to Legume (2.1km). The road is also a significant cross-border freight route between Tenterfield, Queensland, and Australia's east coast for horticultural products. The project will deliver improved safety, freight routes, increased tourism opportunities and provides an alternative emergency and evacuation route for the local communities.

$5,746,545

Tenterfield Shire Council

A2E - Accelerating Event Economies

The A2E project aims to attract large events to the Hunter, accelerating job creation and economic recovery following the bushfires. The project will establish a task group; fund an events and opportunity audit; and develop resources including an event manager's toolkit, a prospectus, and a website.

$861,476

Cessnock City Council, Dungog City Council, Lake Macquarie City Council, MidCoast Council, Muswellbrook Shire Council, Singleton City Council, Upper Hunter Shire Council

Armidale and New England Business Innovation Hub

The University of New England SMART Regional Incubator (SRI) will redevelop the old Armidale War Memorial Library into a business innovation hub. This will support regional start-ups that focus on agriculture, the environment, health, creative industries, renewable energy, and more.

$798,500

Armidale Regional Council

Create Merriwa cycle and walkway

This project will construct approximately 4km of cycle and walkway paths in the township of Merriwa.  The new pathways will connect existing paths to the town's sporting facilities, including its skate park. The path will also incorporate the town's River Walk, enhancing community and visitor experiences.

$922,674

Upper Hunter Shire Council

Restoring country, culture and community

The Great Eastern Ranges (GER) will work with its established regional partner networks to support the recovery of bushfire-impacted communities in the North Coast, the Blue Mountains, the South Coast, and the Far South Coast. The project will include employing rangers; assessing cultural and wildlife sites; a survey of local fauna populations; the installation of nest boxes; community engagement projects; and more.

$1,000,000

Blue Mountains City Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Kyogle Council, City of Lithgow Council, Oberon Council, Richmond Valley Council, Shoalhaven City Council, Tenterfield Shire Council, Upper Lachlan Shire Council