NORTH Wollongong Beach and City Beach came up trumps at today’s Keep Australia Beautiful Clean Beaches Award.

North Wollongong Beach was named State Winner of the Sydney Water, Water Conservation Award for 2012 and took out Highly Commended in Overall Category. The beach was just pipped to the top gong by Huskisson Beach, which won the state title.

City Beach, meanwhile, was the State Winner of the Friendly Beach Award Category and won Highly Commended in the Community Partnerships and Action Award category.

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said the success of the beaches at the state awards was something the whole community should take pride in.

“This is an achievement everyone should be proud of. We have some of the state’s most outstanding beaches in our city and region, we all share in this recognition and are challenged to continue our efforts to make our city’s beaches the best and responsibility for making sure they’re in pristine shape,’’ Cr Bradbery said.

“The fact we collected an award for water conservation at North Beach is, for me, particularly exciting. When we were planning the extensive renovation work to the Bathers Pavilion and revamp to the Blue Mile water conservation was a key issue. This award illustrates it’s possible to look after our natural resources while at the same time preserving a heritage-listed building and improving its surrounds.’’