South Port Noarlunga Beach on the southern fringe of Adelaide in the City of Onkaparinga has been announced as the Overall Winner of the Keep Australia Beautiful Australian Clean Beaches Awards for 2009/2010.
The awards, which were presented on Sydney’s Manly Beach on 25 March, recognise community and individual efforts that help beach communities to become environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.
As well as winning the overall title, South Port Noarlunga also picked up awards in the Resource Recovery and Waste Management; Environmental Innovation and Protection; Water Conservation; and Young Legends categories, as well as a distinction in the Community Action and Partnerships category.
City of Onkaparinga Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg said the awards are testimony to partnerships that have been developed between Council, community groups and State Government agencies for the benefit of this significant coastal area.
“Council has a strong commitment to working closely with its communities and this is a wonderful example of a whole of community approach to protecting and conserving a vital coastal area,” she said.
Achievements include the involvement of the South Port Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) – one of the first clubs in Australia to have a nominated environmental officer – in establishing a Coastal Action Plan and Dune Management Plan, as well as actively promoting recycling and surveying the community’s youth about recycling.
Seeds of indigenous species are also collected for propagation and dune planting by the local nursery, and the SLSC has implemented water audit recommendations, such as the use of buckets and sponges instead of hoses for cleaning boats.
South Port Noarlunga is a unique marine and coastal environment, featuring a significant estuary (Onkaparinga River) just behind the beach and sand dunes. As well as the environmental projects, South Port Noarlunga is also a very popular site for school aquatics programs, with students from across the State converging on the area.
Rockhampton Regional Council’s Main Beach in Yeppoon was also recognised at the awards, taking out the Community Action and Partnerships category and being highly commended in the Environmental Innovation and Protection Award.
The Community Action and Partnerships Award recognises innovative principles and actions associated with developing sustainable communities and also recognises protection of the natural environment, focusing on the conservation of native flora and fauna.
Rockhampton Mayor Brad Carter and Councillor Sandra O’Brien accepted the award at the Manly ceremony.
“I think it’s a testament to the Capricorn Coast that it has won a national level category that so clearly recognises the hard work of our community,” Councillor Carter said.
Other Clean Beaches Award winners include:
- Port Kembla Beach, NSW – Dame Phyllis
Frost Litter Prevention - West Beach Burnie, Tas – Energy Innovation
- Shady Beach Yirrkala, NT and West Beach
Burnie, Tas – equal winners in the Heritage
and Culture category.
For further information and details of all award winners visit www.kab.org.au
