Coffs Harbour City Council established a Community Bike Recycling Centre in partnership with Coffs Harbour Employment Support Services (CHESS) in 2008. The project has also been supported with technical advice and in-kind contributions from local bike shops.

The centre provides skills development and training in bicycle mechanics to participants, while at the same time provides cut-price, refurbished bicycles - for a nominal sum of $10 a bicycle - to groups such as charities and people in receipt of a Centrelink Benefit, or those receiving a service from a Community Service Provider.

However, the $44,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Area Assistance Scheme Funding Program has now enabled the centre to offer to supply refurbished bikes to more community groups.

"The Community Bike Recycling Centre is almost ingenious in being able to provide a range of benefits to so many people through one simple scheme," said Councillor Denise Knight, chair of council's city services committee.

"It provides a cheap form of transport for those in need. It also promotes cycling as a healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transport - and therefore helps the whole community. Plus it provides job training for the participants.

"It's a simple, but very effective idea."

Participants working at the Community Bike Recycling Centre in the Coffs Harbour Showground arrange the collection of unwanted bicycles. They are then taken to the recycling centre to be repaired and refurbished under the supervision of experienced bike mechanic mentors Bob Wallis and Vid Zuckowski.

Once the bicycles are repaired, they are checked to ensure they meet safety standards.

Any local community group seeking a supply of quality, second-hand bicycles, can phone the CHESS office, 6691 9333.

Anyone with any pre-loved adult bicycles they would like to donate, or who wants more information on the project can also contact the CHESS office.