We cleaned up

By Jennette Lees

SHELLHARBOUR cleaned up in this years Clean Beach Challenge, an initiative of Keep Australia Beautiful.

Now in its sixth year, the Clean Beach Challenge encourages and recognises coastal communities, local councils, volunteers and surf lifesaving clubs who focus on anti-litter initiatives, dune and habitat conservation, environmental education programs and initiatives that generally enhance the beach.

Shellharbour North Beach took out the Energy Australia Friendly Beach Award as well as being highly commended in the Local Government Leadership Award.

Port Kembla Beach came a close second, being highly commended in the Energy Australia Friendly Beach Award.

According to Shellharbour Deputy Mayor Michelle Greig and Shellharbour Councillor Christine Jeffreys the Shellharbour community can be very proud to be part of the friendliest beach in the Illawarra.

Coastal communities such as ours work hard to protect our beaches, today is the acknowledgement of their efforts, Cr Greig said.

She said Shellharbour is a friendly community so it should come as no surprise to be recognised as having the friendliest beach in the Illawarra.

Cr Jeffreys said the award adds value to the effort put in by the entire community.

It is a combination of people working together that keeps our beaches as wonderful as they are, she said.

Cr Greig said she has travelled all over the world and the Illawarras beaches truly are the most beautiful, clean and friendly she has come across.

Wollongong City Beach was declared the Illawarra Regional winner of the awards.

According to Keep Australia Beautiful (NSW) CEO Matthew Taylor a number of recent improvements, sensitive regeneration and native vegetation placement and greater public access all contributed to the win of Wollongong City Beach.

Recent redevelopment works have incorporated a number of sustainability features such as the innovative shower designs, the use of post and rail systems of recycled waxed timer and the use of recycled plastic beach access mat/ramps, Mr Taylor said. Wollongong City Beach will now compete against other regional winners from up and down the NSW coast for the state award, which will be announced in Sydney on November 30.