The Northern Beaches has today won the prestigious Keep Australia Beautiful NSW 2020 Sustainable Cities Award thanks to the combined efforts of Council, schools and community groups.

The awards recognise and support the accomplishments of Councils and volunteer environmental projects that actively work towards making Sydney a prime model for sustainable practices across all sectors of the community and industry.

Mayor Michael Regan, along with Council officers accepted the award from Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of New South Wales at a ceremony in Granville today.

“We’re so lucky on the Northern Beaches to have such amazing natural assets like our beaches, waterways and bushland.

“We know how much our community value our local environment and that’s why at Council we have such a key focus on enhancing and protecting it.

“It’s fantastic that the Northern Beaches has been recognised as a leader in sustainability and it’s all thanks to a massive joint effort from Council, community organisations and schools that we’re this year’s Most Sustainable City in NSW. This award is testament to their hard work – congratulations to all.”

Northern Beaches Council was also the joint winner in the Response to Climate Change Award for the Protect.Create.Live – Northern Beaches Environment and Climate Change Strategy, the Swap for Good business program won the Environmental Communication Award and the Closed Loop Organic Recycling Program won the Recycled Organics Award. Waste education messaging on our garbage trucks ‘What a load of rubbish – say no to single-use plastic’ was Highly Commended in the Don’t Be a Tosser! Litter Action Award.

Mayor Regan also recognised the Northern Beaches community organisations that scooped up awards and helped us win the overall Sustainable Cities Award.

Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP) won the Coastal and Waterways Protection Award for their Reducing Litter in Dee Why Lagoon Catchment project and Operation Straw, Highly Commended in the Coastal and Waterways Protection category for their good work retrieving plastic straws from our local oceans.

Our local schools also got involved with Seaforth Public School taking out the School Achievement Award for their Kitchen Garden program and Northern Beaches Secondary College, Cromer Campus awarded Highly Commended for their recycling project. Read about the amazing submissions our local schools submitted to the awards.