It’s official – Maggies Beach at Cabarita is the cleanest beach in NSW – they have the plaque to prove it.
On the back of winning multiple Keep Australia Beautiful NSW, Clean Beaches Regional Awards for the Northern Rivers, Maggies Beach, named for original resident of the area Maggie Murnane, has been named the overall winner of the program for 2012.
The beach has also walked away with the Community Partnerships & Action Award. Our own Fingal Head Public School also made their mark on the awards, landing the State Young Legends Awards.
The Clean Beaches program encourages diverse groups and individuals within a coastal community to form a Clean Beaches Committee and work together to identify and manage sustainability and beautification projects relevant to their beach.
The program empowers coastal communities to actively work for a cleaner, more sustainable environment through the sharing of knowledge, experience and resources.
Ashley Baldry of Cabarita Beach/Bogangar Dune Care accepted the award on behalf of his group and all of the other community groups and members who had contributed to their submission
He said the whole community has been involved including Dune Care, the residents association, business association, Bogangar School, Tweed Shire Council Natural Resources, Cabarita Beach Sports Club, the two local boardriders groups and all other local volunteers.
So, what makes Maggies Beach so special?
Keep Australia Beautiful NSW CEO Peter McLean said Maggies Beach was “a living testament to the community’s” commitment to the ongoing protection and conservation of the beach, headland and dune system.
“The community is justifiably very proud of their coastline,” he said.
“The area is well signposted with interpretive signage well placed. The track constructed through the littoral rainforest and up the headland has been well planned to accommodate both the visitor wanting to get to the best vantage points, and the natural environment struggling to regenerate.
“A wide cross section of the community is involved in the management of the beach, young and old, including the surf clubs, local youth groups, schools and business.”
Peter McLean was also full of praise for the Fingal Head Public School who beat longtime rivals Wooli Public School (after tying with them in 2009) for the State Young Legends Award.
“The students have developed expertise in weeding, collecting seeds, propagating and planting on successive National Tree days,” he said.
“They are well versed on how to conserve and protect the local environment, and are actively involved in many conservation projects such as planting of vines for the endangered Richmond Birdwing Butterfly.”
The school sets an excellent example for other communities on how to respect and care for the local environment.
“Following a rigorous judging process involving submission, on-site assessment and ranking by the Office of Environment and Heritage, Maggies Beach emerged from the pack as the clear winner of State Overall Clean Beach Award and the Community Partnerships & Action Award,” Peter McLean said.
“The beach and surrounds wouldn’t be in the state they’re in had it not been for the consistent love and care of the community. Likewise, Fingal Head Public School stands out as leading the way when it comes to environmental education and protection in action. We warmly congratulate Maggies Beach and Fingal Head.”
