Clean Beaches Awards 2011 - Regional Winners Announced!

 Keep Australia Beautiful NSW began 2011 with a challenge for coastal communities; enter the Clean Beaches Awards program, show us the great things you’ve been doing to protect and improve the coastal environment and your beach could be recognised as the best beach in the region, and potentially, the state.

Now in its 10th year, the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Clean Beaches Awards encourages and recognises coastal communities, local councils, volunteers and surf lifesaving clubs who protect this State’s beautiful coastline. Dune and habitat conservation, environmental education, anti-litter, waste management and visitor friendly initiatives are among some of the projects that are awarded.

Beaches all along the coast, from Brooms Head in the North to Terrigal on the Central Coast and Rennies Beach down South took up the challenge, showcasing an impressive range of projects and programs that aim to improve and maintain the natural beauty of the NSW Coast.

Peter McLean, CEO of Keep Australia Beautiful NSW visited each region throughout the assessing and judging process and found communities meeting local environmental challenges with a combination of research, strategy and partnerships.

 “Changes to all our wonderful Beaches are inevitable, but as long as we have strong partnerships between community, government and businesses, as well as information sharing and networking then together we can ensure that these changes are positive ones.  The Clean Beaches program is a framework which underpins this; it recognises hard work and best practice projects, activities and innovation.”

Much of the work is done by hard working, dedicated volunteers whose mission is to protect, and improve the fragile ecosystems in their region.

 “Our Beaches have suffered from severe weather conditions over the past few years mainly in the form of sand erosion, but one has to wonder how much worse this erosion might have been without the hard work of dedicated Volunteers right up and down the coastline who lovingly care for their local dune systems and beach vegetation.  This contribution can never be repaid, but it can be recognised and published to thank those who volunteer, and encourage more to lend and hand. The Clean Beaches program aims to drive positive change, with the winning beaches being proof that change is possible.” Chief Executive Officer of Keep Australia Beautiful NSW, Peter McLean, said.

All Regional Winners will now vie for the NSW Government Office of Environment and Heritage, State Overall Clean Beach title, with the winner being announced in mid December.

Click Here to download a full list of Regional Winners.

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 For media information please contact: Carolyn Oakley, Media & Communications Manager, Keep Australia Beautiful NSW on (02) 9633 3380.

For comment or interviews please contact: Peter McLean, Chief Executive Officer on 0416 227 158