Clean beach challenge

Keep Australia Beautiful Clean Beach Challenge judge Carolynne James with Shellharbour Council Environment Recreation Officer Tuesday Heather

WE know the Illawarra has some of the finest beaches in the country and we now have the chance to prove it with Shellharbour North Beach nominated in the Keep Australia Beautiful Clean Beach Challenge.

One of the judges Carolynne James visited the beach last week to see firsthand what it is like.

She said judges look for a number of things including how much litter is around, the number of bins provided, graffiti, accessibility including disabled access, parking, the use of water saving and energy efficient devices and how involved the community is in their beach.

Tuesday Heather, Environment and Recreation Officer Shellharbour Council, said Shellharbour North Beach has taken out the overall award two years in a row and are vying for a third title.

Ms James said it is not a beauty contest, it is about finding a beach that is well maintained and has strong community involvement.

We look at environmental programs like dune care and how native species are encouraged to use the area, she said.

We literally check how many bins are here, how the beach is physically looking, water and recycling facilities.

She was impressed with our local beach.

It is a high quality beach but there is some tough competition this year, she said.

Ms Heather and Shellharbour Council nominated Shellharbour North Beach which attracts about 61 000 visitors each year.

She said they chose Shellharbour North Beach for a variety of reasons including the new playground equipment recently installed and the small embayment on the southern end of the beach, which is protected from southerly swells and is an ideal toddler paddling area.

She commended the Shellharbour Surf Club on their involvement in the area not only keeping our beach safe but also keeping it well maintained, creating an area the public is proud of.

This beach really is a focal point for the community and by entering the Clean Beach Challenge it is a way of congratulating the community on keeping the beach they way they do. It is also really good recognition for all of the work the surf club puts in, Ms Heather said.

The regional awards will be announced next month with the national Clean Beach Challenge winner announced next February.