Enviro Groups

A directory of eco groups in our community. 

Please find below the environmental groups that are working together in our local community.

For the peak bodies who are working at regional, state and national levels, click here.

Bellingen Community Gardens Association/Bellingen High School Garden

The garden has been established since May 2011 and has now several garden beds in place plus a series of raised container beds. There is a lock-up shed with tools and equipment, a pizza oven and our own trailer. We are running a series of workshops on different garden-related topics-see our Wall for current workshops and other events. The garden is open to the whole community with access to non-high-school-students aftr school hours and on weekends.

A: Crown Street entrance to Bellingen High School
F: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bellingen-Community-Gardens-AssociationBellingen-High-School-Garden/128326590578311?sk=info

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bellingen Energy Festival Committee

The Bellingen Energy Festival is an annual event, showcasing environmental innovation and information. The program includes key-note speakers, workshops, kids activities, and live music – all around the theme of sustainability. Community groups and local businesses demonstrate all the ideas, products and services that can help reduce our carbon footprint and lead to a better future.

P: 0467 551 011 – Paul Nebauer
E: info@bef.org.au
W: www.bef.org.au

 

 

 

 

 

Bellingen Environment Centre

The BEC committee works together to protect the natural environment, conserve biodiversity and promote proactive responses to climate change. We come together to review local and global issues that affect the environment. We formulate campaigns that raise public awareness and lobby at all levels of government. A campaign may consist of hosting an event, letter writing, media campaigning, conducting research, taking legal action or completing community surveys. We interlink with other environmental groups and educators. If you are passionate about protecting our planet, the BEC committee would love to have you onboard.

P: 6655 9199 – Caroline Joseph
E: bellingenenvironmentcentre@gmail.com
W: www.bellingenenvironmentcentre.org.au
F: facebook.com/pages/Bellingen-Environment-Centre/184105131611141
Visit us most Tuesdays, 10.00am – 3.00pm at the BEC.

 

 

 

 

Bellingen EYE (Environmental Youth Experience)

Do you want to help save our planet? Do you want to have fun? Do you want to learn new skills like making fire with no matches, building bush shelters, and finding bush tucker? or being a camp leader, running an environmental campaign, and working in a group? Do you want to become a youth leader and have a voice in our community? Do you want to make a difference? Bellingen EYE is a group of inspired youth from the Bellingen Shire who have a passion for the environment and want to conserve its beauty, locally and abroad. We provide adventurous and enlightening nature and leadership camps for local high school aged youth. We also carry out projects and environmental campaigns, and take part in environmental happenings in our community. We aim to strengthen the connections between youth and our environment, while empowering youth to create a stronger voice within our community.

P: 0423 362 844 – Lisa Siegel
E: info@bellingeneye.com
W: www.bellingeneye.com
F: facebook.com/bellingeneye

 

 

 

 

 

Bellingen Seeds Savers

Seeds for the future – sow some, save some, share some. The seeds of Bellingen Seed Savers were sown at a Transition Bellingen/Local Food Network Cafe ‘Sowing Seeds for the Future’ in September 2008. These seeds germinated and continue to show vigorous growth. We have grown from five people to an average of 15-20 attending Gatherings and a mailing list of approx. 120. We gather on the first Thursday afternoon of the month, in a variety of venues, for discussions and sharing of seeds and plant materials, visits to gardens and practical workshops. Our gardens and experience are very diverse but we all share a keen desire to learn more about sowing, growing, harvesting, cleaning and storing open-pollinated, non-hybrid seeds. Our aim is to to ensure a reliable source of delicious, nutritious local food into the future – whatever it brings. We seek seeds and plants that will grow well in the Bellingen area (20km south and inland of Coffs Harbour on the Mid North Coast of NSW), whether they have been handed down through generations of local growers or have been brought in from elsewhere and adapted to our conditions. This area has a range of microclimates, with variations in planting and harvesting times. We welcome anyone who shares our aims and enthusiasm.

P: 02 6655 9090 – Irene Wallin
E: treeferns@westnet.com.au
W: www.bellingenseedsaversunderground.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

 

Bellinger Landcare

Bellinger Landcare Incorporated is a community-based not-for-profit organisation supporting community initiatives and involvement in natural resource management in Bellingen Shire and beyond.

P: 02 6655 9588 – Colin Matthews
E: contact@bellingerlandcare.org.au
W: www.bellingerlandcare.org.au

 

 

Bellingen Urban Landcare

Bellingen Urban Landcare started work on our first site in 1995 on the banks of the creek that runs through Bellingen Park (where the monthly markets are held). Since then we’ve targeted nine more sites…all of which we continue to maintain. We plant local species of grasses, shrubs and trees after first tagging and protecting any native seedlings and removing invasive weeds. We then continue to work intensively at each new site until a canopy is sufficiently established to protect smaller plants and to provide the shade that keeps the weeds at bay. This may take three to five years. Until recently we avoided the use of herbicides, but with the dangers posed by weeds such as Madeira Vine, we currently have a restricted policy of herbicide use for selected weed species. These herbicides are not used at working bees.

P: 0438 060 576 – Carmen Muldoon
E: info@bellingenurbanlandcare.org.au
W: www.bellingenurbanlandcare.org.au

 

 

Bellofoodbox

Bellofoodbox is built on the passion and commitment of the local community. Our delicious, seasonal produce comes from local farmers living within a 200km radius of Bellingen, packed into boxes, and collected by our members. We are working towards all people in the Bellingen Shire and surrounding areas having equitable access to affordable, fresh, healthy, local food that has been grown using sustainable agricultural practices and contributes to a fair, connected, sustainable and resilient community. 

P: 6655 9199 – Leigh Winter
E: info@bellofoodbox.org.au
W: www.bellofoodbox.org.au
F: www.facebook.com/pages/Bellofoodbox/179152872122165

 

 

 

BLESS (Bellingen Local Energy Sustainability System)

BLESS is a local exchange trading system (LETS) that is helping Bellingen transition to a more sustainable and resilient future. You can trade goods and services for BLESS-ings instead of dollars! BLESS fosters social justice and equality, strengthens our community and helps to keep our abundance flourishing locally.

P: 0422 141 755 – Megan Bliss
E: bles@community-exchange.org
W: www.community-exchange.org

Coffs Regional Community Gardens

Coffs Regional Community Gardens (CRCG) is a not-for-profit organisation of volunteers working to establish productive, well-managed community gardens in our region. Our members are local residents from a wide cross-section of the community, including representatives from community groups and individuals with a passion for local food and sustainable living.

W: www.coffscommunitygardens.org.au

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dorrigo Environment Watch (DEW)

Dorrigo Environment Watch Inc. (DEW) is an incorporated group of Dorrigo Plateau residents concerned for the health of their local environment and for the health of local residents. We first came together as a group in May 2010 when it became clear that the antimony exploration being conducted on the Dorrigo Plateau had the potential to become a fully operating mine in the near future.

The Dorrigo Plateau is one of NSW’s environmental treasures and the prospect of pollution of our streams and rivers here is not a thought that brings pleasure to the minds of many locals. We are keen to preserve this treasure for future generations.

Our mission is “To raise community awareness of risks to human and environmental health”

E: jackydorrigo2@bigpond.com – Jacky
E: amargiwolf@yahoo.com.au – Amargi
W: www.dorrigoenvironmentwatch.org.au

 

 

DUBBUG (Dorrigo Urunga Bellingen Bike Users Group)

The group has been operating for 6 years and we have grown from strength to strength in that time. On the local scene we ride all around the Bellingen, Dorrigo and Urunga areas, not only on local roads but in the State Forest and National Parks.

P: 0429 949 322 / 02 6652 7464 – George Hudson
E: george1h@bigpond.com
W: www.bellingen.com/bug

 

 

 

 

 

EcoBello

EcoBello is a loosely affiliated network of groups working towards sustainability in the Bellingen Shire, which is located on the beautiful Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. The EcoBello network meets quarterly with the goals of information sharing, networking, and collective campaigning when necessary.

To subscribe to the mailing list, email transitionbellingen@gmail.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecofaith Bellingen

We gather to connect directly with God, and God’s ever evolving creation. We are a predominantly Christian community which celebrates God’s presence and work in all people, including humans. All humans of good will are welcome to join us in exploring the connection between Earth (the ecos)- and faith, or spirituality. Kids welcome, bring a snack to share afterwards if you like. Bring old clothes and sturdy shoes if you want to go exploring on the 12ha of rainforest afterwards. An initiative of the Uniting Church ecoministry. Gatherings: now on an ad hoc basis, see website or call Jason.

P: 6655 1050 / 0433 216 073 – Rev Dr Jason John, Minister
E: Jason@ecofaith.org
W: http://ecofaith.org/mnc/community/
F: facebook.com/group.php?gid=289643833856

 

 

 

Edible Streetscapes Bellingen

Edible Streetscapes is a joint initiative by Transition Bellingen, the North Bank Community Garden and the Bellingen Chamber of Commerce. The idea behind this project is to promote local food awareness through turning the streets of our beautiful town into a food basket, available to all.

P: 0411 229 300 – Guy Saddleton, President, Bellingen Chamber of Commerce
E: president@bellingenchamber.com.au
W: http://ediblestreetsbellingen.blogspot.com.au/

 

 

 

 

 

Local Food Futures Alliance

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P: 6648 4646 - Lynn Delgado
E: lynn.delgado@chcc.nsw.gov.au

 

 

 

 

Mid North Coast Greens

We believe in: • The need for a sustainable use of the Earth’s finite resources; • An urgent need to reduce our carbon footprint and to prevent further climate change; and, • Social justice. Contribute to our campaigns and make a difference.

E: secretary@mncg.nsw.greens.org.au
W: www.midnorthcoast.nsw.greens.org.au/

 

Contact also available through: PO Box 508, Bellingen, 2454 / 02 9045 6999 / www.nsw.greens.org.au

Mid North Coast Permaculture Collective

The Permaculture Collective MNC has been formed by qualified permaculturists to provide support to like minded people in the mid north coast region of New South Wales Australia.

P: 6655 08949 – Dave
W: http://permcollmnc.blogspot.com.au/

Mid Rivers Group of Environmental Educators (MRGEE)

Content goes here

W: www.groups.google.com/group/mrgee

 

 

 

Northbank Community Garden

Northbank Community Garden is located at 100 Northbank Rd. Bellingen. This is a place for community, the arts and food! We encourage sustainability, reusing and recycling and local food production. Established in 2008, the garden is an organic non-profit grass-roots venture. It features a large area designated as communal beds, a chook run, greenhouse and a communal gathering space with kitchen. There are over 30 citrus and olive trees, with several other food trees growing aswell. Visitors to the garden are asked to be respectful and gentle. The garden sustains itself by hard work and the generosity and honesty of the community. Contributions are made in the form of donations, materials or by working in the garden.

P: 0410 532 272 – Nic Denshire
E: info@northbankgarden.org.au
W: www.northbankgarden.org
F: facebook.com/Northbank.Community.Garden

 

 

 

 

 

Permablitz Bellingen

Anyone and everyone can come to a permablitz. Skill level and even physical capacity aren’t problems at all. We especially welcome first time gardeners. Just come and contribute anyway you are able. People from many different backgrounds and from nine months to ninety in age turn up. Because everyone has to eat, and food gardening is relevant to almost everyone, so you’re sure to meet interesting, friendly people of many stripes and persuasions at a permablitz. 

P: 0438 516 351 – Joe Walker
E: joewalker@y7mail.com
W: http://permablitzbellingen.net/

Transition Bellingen

Transition Bellingen is a part of a global transition network that aims to build resilience so local communities can survive, and even thrive, in the face of global challenges like Peak Oil and Climate Change. In 2010, we focussed on awareness raising about these issues and invited our community to reflect with us on how Bellingen could be even better than it already is and to develop vision ideas of a better, more resilient Bello – whatever the future brings. We recognise that all transition initiatives are experimental: we are learning by doing. We like these words by a Spanish poet: “Traveller, there is no road. We make the road by walking”. We welcome fellow travellers to use the menu on the left to navigate a path through the activities and events of Transition Bellingen.

E: transitionbellingen@gmail.com
W: www.transitionbellingen.org