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Coffs Coast Business News - April 2026
Each month, the City of Coffs Harbour's Economic Development & Tourism Team collates information for all businesses, large and small, across the Coffs Coast - helping you stay informed, keep connected, and feel supported.
We hope you find our monthly newsletter valuable. Please feel free to forward it to colleagues and your team. They can also subscribe to receive a copy directly. Previous editions of Coffs Coast Business News are available to view here.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Business events and training
- Whispers of Wilderness: Voices of our Coast - Monday 13 April
- Teeing Up for a Cause - Sunday 19 April
- Mid North Coast Housing & Infrastructure Summit - Friday 1 May
- Neurodiversity Inclusion Masterclass - Thursday 21 May
Local news and opportunities
- In case you missed it around the region
- Coffs Coast Festival of Rugby
- Coffs Harbour World Record Attempt
- Coffs Coast Careers Connect
Grant funding and business support
- Coffs Harbour Grant Finder
- Have your Say: Business NSW Fuel Pressure
- Have your Say: Advisory Service for Small Business
- Destination NSW Regional Event Fund
What's On Coffs Coast and major event calendar
LOCAL BUSINESS EVENTS
Whispers of Wilderness - Voices of our Coast
Join the National Parks Association of NSW Coffs Coast Branch for a free community engagement event focusing on the tourism and business opportunities of the Coffs Coast Parks and Reserves.
This is an evening for anyone who does business on the Coffs Coast, loves this place, or wants to understand why protecting it matters — for our economy, our community and our health.
Monday 13 April, 6.00pm - 8.00pm,
Jetty Memorial Theatre, 337 Harbour Drive
Teeing up for a Cause
The Woolgoolga & Northern Beaches Chamber of Commerce invites you to an exclusive 4 Player Ambrose at Safety Beach Golf Course, supporting the Coffs Kids.
Network with 120 players from Woolgoolga and the Northern Beaches while making a meaningful impact.
Prizes for Winners, Runners-up, Wooden Spoon, Closest to the Pin, Longest Drive, and Best Dressed.
Sunday 19 April, from 8am, Safety Beach Golf Course
The Business NSW Housing Now! Summit will bring together business, government, and industry leaders to examine housing & infrastructure challenges impacting our region and to explore practical, place‑based solutions.
The summit will commence with a practical review of the NSW Planning Reforms from an industry perspective, what’s working and what’s yet to be achieved. This will be followed by a panel discussion with senior representatives from each local council in the region on the planning reforms, as well as challenges and opportunities relating to infrastructure and housing supply & affordability on their LGA’s.
To ensure the forum is grounded in real experience and addresses the issues that matter most to our region, we will then hear from industry on what issues are yet to be addressed, and the opportunities that exist in relation to infrastructure & housing.
Friday 1 May, 9am - 12pm, TAFE NSW Theatre (Block D), Coffs Harbour Education Campus
The Neurodiversity Inclusion Masterclass gives leaders, managers, and teams the practical tools to create workplaces where neurodivergent employees can thrive.
Participants explore the workplace impact of neurodiversity, the risks of exclusion, and how inclusive leadership strengthens innovation, retention, and overall performance.
Through real-world case studies and guided reflection, the session positions neuro-inclusion as a shared responsibility across the organisation, embedding psychological safety and accessibility into everyday culture and systems.
Presented by Nicole Done from the Xceptional Academy in partnership with Business NSW Mid North Coast, Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, ETC, and the City of Coffs Harbour.
Thursday 21 May, 9am - 12pm, C.ex Coffs, Vernon Street
LOCAL NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Check out this monthly snapshot of articles, marketing activities, and campaigns making news across our region and beyond. Here's what's happening:
- Destination NSW: North Coast business groups to get night-time economy boost
- Destination NSW: Coffs Harbour Hosts Fourteenth Consecutive National Touch Football Championships
- NSW Government: Funding secured for Moonee Beach footbridge construction
ALL COFFS COAST BUSINESSES are invited to share these news stories in their business marketing. This is a great way to bring people from out of the area to your business - and the content is already created for you.
This April, the Coffs Coast Festival of Rugby brings a full week of action to the region – featuring international teams from Japan and Fiji, Australia’s most promising emerging talent, and a packed program of matches and events for players, fans, families and locals.
The exhibition matches form a key part of preparations for the upcoming World Rugby U20 Championship, and the festival-style celebration of rugby encourages visitation to the region these school holidays.
Tickets available for the following events:
- Thursday 9 April: Corporate Golf Day - 12noon, Bonville Golf Resort
- Friday 10 April: Rugby Legends Lunch - 12.15pm, C.ex Club, Coffs Harbour
- Saturday 11 April: Japan U23s V Australia U20s - 5.00pm, C.ex Coffs International Stadium
The festival also includes:
- Saturday 4 April: Japan U23s V Fiji U20s in Grafton
- Wednesday 8 April: Japan U23s V Australian Stockman and Fiji U20s V Australia U20s in Kempsey
- Saturday 11 April: Post-match function and live music at Toormina Hotel
A Little Bit Bananas - Coffs Harbour World Record Attempt
Join hundreds of locals on Jetty Beach to attempt a world record for the largest banana formation made by people. That’s right: we’re creating a giant human banana on the sand, in a fun celebration of one of the things Coffs Harbour is most famous for.
Bananas are part of the story of this city. The region’s banana-growing heritage helped shape Coffs Harbour, and over the years the town has grown into a place loved by generations of Australian families. Road trips, beach days, school holidays and unforgettable memories have all started right here.
Hosted by Mayor Nikki Williams and Channel Nine’s Jane DeGraff, the event also supports Coffs in the NSW Top Tourism Town Awards. Come together with family, friends, colleagues, sporting teams, or community groups to celebrate our fun and joyful destination.
- Date: Saturday 11 April
- Time: 7.30am - 10.30am
- Location: Jetty Beach (north side of the Jetty)
Coffs Coast Careers Connect
The annual careers event for the Coffs-Clarence region is being organised by Mid Coast Connect, with the support of event partners Southern Cross University, ETC, BCU, TAFE NSW, and The City of Coffs Harbour.
This initiative raises the awareness and aspirations of young people about careers. Some 1200 senior students from twenty high schools in the region (Macksville to Dorrigo to Grafton) will attend.
A strong local economy is underpinned by an appropriately qualified, and motivated, workforce. This workforce development initiative contributes to encouraging young people to build a career in the region by informing them about vocational opportunities and the pathways to employment.
Thursday 28 May, 9am - 2pm, Coffs Harbour Racing Club, 62 Howard Street
GRANT FUNDING & BUSINESS SUPPORT
COFFS HARBOUR GRANT FINDER
The City of Coffs Harbour provides a free service for locals to find grants and grant writing tips. Register to be notified of specific grants for your business or organisation.
'Have your Say' Opportunities
Business NSW Mid North Coast - Fuel Pressure Survey
BNSW are engaging with state and federal governments to secure immediate support, and request your feedback to:
- back their advocacy with evidence from members and community
- show the direct impact on business operations and workforces, and
- push for targeted, effective support measures.
The survey closes on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, at 10 am AEST.
Service NSW Business Bureau - Small Business Advisory Service
The NSW Government has announced that it will provide a new advisory service for small businesses, and want to understand:
- what support will make the biggest difference to small businesses
- what core skills or advice do small businesses need at different stages
- how small business owners prefer to access support.
The survey closes on Sunday, 19 April 2026, at 11.59pm AEST.
Destination NSW Regional Event Fund
The NSW Government is backing regional investment with a $1.5 million injection for events across regional NSW through the Regional Event Fund for events held in the 2026/27 financial year. There are three funding streams available:
- Incubator Event stream: New events in their first or second years can receive up to $20,000 in seed funding to support activities that help establish an event as a key driver of visitation.
- Flagship Event stream: Emerging events that have been running for more than two years can receive $20,000 grants to increase their profile and attract visitors. Events that have already received three annual grants will be eligible for grants of $30,000 over three years.
- Event Development stream: Established events that have previously received and completed triennial funding through the Flagship Event stream can receive grants of up to $50,000.
Applications for the Incubator and Flagship Event stream close 12 April 2026.
The Development stream remains open until 31 December 2026.
WHAT'S ON @ COFFS COAST
Relics: A New World Rises
28 March - 19 July
Holden Ute Muster Show & Shine
18 April
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival
1 May
Coffs Harbour Triathlon and Banana Run
9-10 May
Please reach out to our team at City of Coffs Harbour if you have any questions.
Check out our 6 degrees business support website for business events and resources.
For tourism industry and visitor economy business support and information, go to our Coffs Coast tourism industry hub.
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