Lake Cathie Landcare Group has received advice from Tidy Towns NSW that it has won an award for its work along the Lake Cathie foreshore.
The Group had lodged a submission for the Wildlife Corridors and Habitats Conservation Award sponsored by the Office of Environment and Heritage Conservation.
Lake Cathie Landcare volunteers have been working for the past five years regenerating the area along Jonathon Dickson Reserve and south into part of Middle Rock Reserve.
The entire project site was highly degraded from extensive and uncontrolled growth of Bitou Bush which had destroyed most of the native vegetation.
The Bitou growth was, in places, up to eight metres high, strangling Banksia and other native trees.
In 2006 when the project began, almost all birdlife and other animals had left the area.
The work over the years sees the site almost back to its natural state, with a wide variety of birds returning and many of the native species again making the area home.
Another major benefit of the vegetation growth is the windbreak it provides to reduce the size of waves and resultant damage large seas can inflict on the coastal dunes.
The dense growth also stops unauthorised pedestrian access which causes serious damage from people climbing down the dunes.
The letter from Tidy Towns advising of the award stated: “The work you and your community have completed greatly impressed your assessor and the judging panel. The award presented to your town will be either from the overall town entry or sponsored category awards, or both.”
The awards will be presented at the Annual Tidy Town Celebration Weekend at Lithgow from November 4-6.
Lake Cathie Landcare President, Rob Tate, said the volunteers responsible for the work were very proud of their efforts and are excited to be receiving such a prestigious award.
“The Group is aware the job is far from finished, with weekly working bees continuing, with weeding and replacement of plants as needed. The group has a policy of continued improvement,” he said.
The Submission to Tidy Towns can be viewed on the Landcare link on Lake Cathie Progress Association’s website
www.lakecathiepa.com
