[author]Albert Elzinga[/author]
The winner of the inaugural NSW Clean Beaches Competition is to be announced today in Sydney – and Maggies Beach, just south of Cabarita, is one of nine state finalists in the running for the top prize.
Maggies has already won the Northern Rivers section of the 2011 NSW Clean Beaches competition.
Local community groups including Cabarita Beach Dunecare and students from Bogangar Public School planted trees and cleaned up the beach as part of an environmental rejuvenation project which enjoyed ‘exceptional community participation’, according to Keep Australia Beautiful NSW representative Peter McLean.
Mr McLean announced the win to an enthusiastic crowd at Cabarita’s surf life saving club last week.
He commended the ‘outstanding’ work done by the local community, calling the win ‘well-deserved’ and described the enormous community effort as ‘inspiring’.
Dunecare co-ordinator Ashley Baldry said the work done at the beach had ‘brought the whole community together with a positive aim in mind’.
Mr Baldry said the community planted hundreds of trees in the area and conducted regular weeding and clean-up sessions.
‘We have been very active,’ Mr Baldry said.
The Clean Beaches contest is the latest incarnation of the NSW Clean Beach Challenge which was last held in 2009 and saw Manly’s North Steyne Beach judged the best overall beach in NSW.
The competition aims to encourage coastal communities to work together to identify and manage specific programs, projects and initiatives which promote sustainability and beautification of their beaches.
Cabarita’s effort also brought victory in the ‘Community Partnerships and Action’ awards and was highly commended in the ‘Environmental Protection’ awards, ‘Young Legends’ awards and ‘Friendly Beach’ awards.
Image: Jaden Greenwood and Larni Jennar from Bogangar Public School with Ashley Baldry (rear) from Cabarita Dunecare. Photo Jeff ‘Beachcomber’ Dawson
