SIX Illawarra beaches have been nominated for a Clean Beaches Award, a program run by Keep Australia Beautiful and sponsored by Sydney Water.
The beaches nominated are Stanwell Park, North Warilla, Port Kembla, City Beach (Wollongong), North Wollongong, and Belmore Basin. Stanwell Park was nominated for the beach’s litter and waste management.
Minister for the Illawarra Greg Pearce said the awards recognise residents and community groups who work hard to care for their local coastline and protect the environment.
“We all know that Illawarra beaches make up one of the most pristine pieces of coastline in Australia so it comes as no surprise that six of these beaches are in the running for such an award,” he said.
“Port Kembla and North Wollongong Beach have been nominated for the Water Conservation Award, with North Wollongong also in the running for six other awards including the State’s Overall Cleanest Beach Award,” he said.
Mr Pearce said assessors have visited the six nominated beaches to evaluate water and land care initiatives.
“The Clean Beaches Awards are presented to local councils, volunteers, surf lifesaving clubs and other community groups who care for dunes, protect habitats, educate the community, reduce litter and support tourism,” he said.
“This year we have seen an increased number of beach nominations in the Illawarra region from last year which proves this region showcases some of the best beaches the state has to offer.
“As we approach summer it’s great for local residents to know that they are swimming in some of the cleanest beaches in NSW and best of all, they’re right on our door step.
“I pay tribute to those residents who work hard to ensure Illawarra beaches are among the best in the state and wish all those nominated success in these awards.”
The Clean Beaches Program has been running since 2001 and this year’s winners will be announced in late November.
The Bulli & Clifton Times 
Michael, are people blind, the Illawarra has some of the dirtiest , dangerous and useless beaches in Australia like Woonona. Most of the year Woonona has no dry sand for Nipper activities as the beach is destroyed by overgrown introduced dune plants all the way to the shoreline, At Woonona and Bulli and Towradgi, you cannot remove the rubbish from the beach because the plants are too thick and impenetrable. Most of the year there are new dangerous rips, deep gutters and dangerously high 2-4m sandcliffs that form along the shoreline which have dying plant roots sticking out of them as a result of the plants. We would be able to keep our beaches clean if we could find them under the non complying plants. Could you please lobby the council to remove vegetation which stops us keeping Woonona and other over vegetated beaches, clean and safe, so we too can qualify for awards as the other beaches do.
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Posted by Michael | October 14, 2012, 11:21 pmMichael, I agree there is a problem with beaches and vegetation at Woonona, Bulli and Corrimal. However, the people who judged Stanwell Park and gave it an award, are far from blind. Stanwell Park was nominated for the beach’s litter and waste management award, and justly deserves the accolade. Those who believe that council should rethink its beach planting policy need to continue their fight if they want change. The Bulli Times has already raised community concern over beach vegetation with council in previous stories.
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Posted by The Bulli Times | October 15, 2012, 11:53 amThanks for the reply Michael, Please don’t forget Towradgi etc, Thanks fore reply Michael, the 3rd last paragraph was the one that got up my nose, “As we approach summer…….Theyr’e right at our doorstep. I know that we should be trying to give the Ilawarra a positive rap but this statement gives the impression ALL beaches are in the Illawarra are clean and safe. If you read The CZMP DRAFT and the Post Exhibition Report carefully Councils stand at the moment is weighted to the viability and importance of the vegetated dunes that don’t comply to the NSW Planning manual Coastal Dune Management and the consultants employed by Council have advised Council to manage the beaches totally against the manual and all that is practical for a modern highly populated city. The high dangerous sand cliffs caused by plants not recommended for the beach are even justified in the CZMP Post Exhibition Report. I hope they get it right so we can be included for awards and the last paragraph in your story, cheers Michael, I look forward to your stories, Michael Zaracostas.
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Posted by Michael | October 16, 2012, 7:43 am