Tathra Beach on the NSW South Coast has won the Community Action and Environmental Innovation awards at the Keep Australia Beautiful Clean Beaches Awards, announced in Sydney last night.
Tathra, a close knit coastal village of just over 1500 people, has a long history of community based action to protect and enhance its magnificent coastal environment. Tathra Beach, one of the Shires premier tourist beaches, is backed by an extensive coastal reserve system for its entire length.
Local and district residents flock to Tathra year round, to take advantage of the diversity of coastal ecosystems and reserve facilities. The beach environment ranges from natural dune systems and remnant vegetation communities, to developed recreational areas, surf club and a caravan park.
According to the Australian Clean Beaches Judge, Chris Tola, “The Bega area is well known for community activity and Tathra Beach is cared for by many active and dedicated community groups and individuals. Their long-term commitment guarantees innovation and a shared responsibility to the coast and wider local environment earned them the Community Action award.”
Tathra is also the birth place of the ‘Clean Energy for Eternity’ group whose focus is community based climate change mitigation actions. Beginning with a 3000 person human sign on Tathra Beach spelling out “Clean Energy for Eternity”, the group has now expanded with chapters in four neighbouring Councils and in Mosman (Sydney) and Victoria. This initiative won Tathra the Environmental Innovation award. Dr Matthew Nott, a driving force behind the initiative, also received the Dame Phyllis Frost Individual Award.
Bruce Hopkins (Hoppo) Waverley Council Lifeguard Coordinator and star of Channel 10’s ‘Bondi Rescue’ attended the national awards presentation and congratulated all participants for their efforts:
“Working as a lifeguard for over 17 years I have seen first hand how rubbish can damage our beautiful beaches. I have always been very supportive and proud of ‘Keep Australia Beautiful’ and I would like to congratulate all the participants on a fantastic job in keeping the beaches clean. Keep up the great work!”
Tathra Beach was also highly commended in the Community Partnership and Protection of the Environment categories, whilst Townsville’s The Strand won the overall Clean Beaches national title for 2008.
Australia’s favourite premium spring water Mount Franklin, is celebrating individual, local and community sustainability efforts by sponsoring the Australian Clean Beaches Awards 2008.
Further information about the Australian Clean Beaches Awards can be found at www.kab.org.au
Keep Australia Beautiful, Australian Clean Beaches, Award Recipients 2008
Australia’s Cleanest Beach
The Strand – QLD
Community Action
Tathra Beach – NSW
Heritage and Culture
Frankston – VIC
Environmental Innovation
Tathra Beach – NSW
Environmental Innovation Water
The Strand – QLD
Litter Prevention
Scarborough Beach – WA
Resource Recovery
Scarborough Beach – WA
Community Partnership
Freers Beach – TAS
Protection of the Environment
The Strand – QLD
Young Legends
Kingston, South East – SA
Dame Phyllis Frost Award
Dr Matthew Nott
Clean Energy Group, Tathra Beach – NSW
Full details for each entrant in the Australian Clean Beaches Awards 2008 can be found at www.kab.org.au/clean-beaches.