Is your street the cleanest in Lakemba?

Lakemba residents are being encouraged to create a cleaner and greener suburb, by taking part in this year’s Cleanest Street in Lakemba competition.

The competition, run by Environment@Lakemba with the help of financial support from Council, recognises and rewards residents’ efforts to make Lakemba a cleaner and more sustainable place to live, work and play. Registered streets will be judged throughout September and October on the amount of litter in the street; the amount of illegally dumped household goods; and the tidiness of the nature strip.

Croydon Street resident Abul Kalam Azad, whose street took out the top prize in last year’s competition, is looking forward to the challenge.

"We were really proud of last year’s win. We put up posters, distributed the competition form, picked up litter and we even made a promotional video to encourage everyone to get involved," he said.

"To win this year, the street will need a high participation rate and Croydon Street residents will wholeheartedly support this program."

Annette Bird, who lives in Fairmount Street, said residents in her street have their eyes set firmly on the prize.

"We know the competition will be strong but Fairmount Street is ready!" Ms Bird said.

"It’s so important to have a litter-free suburb because litter attracts birds which make a bigger mess! The litter can also end up in our oceans and it just shouldn’t."

The winning street will be announced at Council’s Carols in the Park at Wiley Park amphitheatre, on Sunday 2 December. For more information, or to register your street by Sunday 30 September, visit 4cs.org.au

Mayor Khal Asfour said the competition forms part of Council’s wider campaign to install greater pride in Canterbury-Bankstown, by making it a cleaner and greener City.

"More than 10,000 people told us, one of the seven areas they want us to focus on over the next 10 years, is to make CBCity cleaner and greener by 2028," he said.

"But, to do that, we need everyone involved."

Mayor Asfour said Council hosts the Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping Squad, which is based in Bankstown; and promotes waste reduction programs, such as the award-winning Recycle Right, Wheelie Good Compost giveaways, and Love Food Hate Waste.

"These programs continue to be very successful but, in the end, its personal attitudes that make the difference," Mayor Asfour said.

"Chester Hill Neighbourhood Centre plans to start a resident action group shortly, while similar community groups, such as Cleaner Greener Riverwood, Canterbury Mudcrabs, and Environment@Lakemba, are already well established and dedicated to working with us to keep the City clean and green."