South Durras Landcare wins award

The South Durras Landcare group was recognised for its valuable contribution to the environment at the NSW Coastal Management Awards last week.

The group won the community involvement award for its continued contribution to the environment and exceptional service to the local community over the past three decades.

Council’s Landcare Coordinator Emma Patyus congratulated the group on the tremendous achievement.

“The group was heavily involved in the reshaping and revegetation of the dunes in the late ’80s and early ’90s under the dune reclamation scheme. With nearly 4km of coastline to protect, this was no mean feat,” she said.

“They continue to protect this same coastline decades later through continued invasive species control (both weeds and feral animals), protection of native fauna and flora, access consolidation, erosion control, fencing, revegetation, litter collection, training and community education.

“The group also helped to build and maintain well-utilised infrastructure such as the South Durras whale watching platform, Cookies Beach viewing platform, Durras Headland recreational fishing access stairway and viewing platform and the South Durras shared walkway and footpath - all of which contribute to the public amenity, tourist attraction and environmental protection of this beautiful area.

“They are such committed members of their local community who volunteer countless hours to local environmental causes - and to top it off they are great company.”

Eurobodalla Council also received a highly commended award for its estuary protection program, which recognised the ongoing work in enhancing more than 500 hectares of estuarine vegetation by removing threats such as weeds, erosion, illegal access and rubbish dumping.

The award recognised the program had resulted in improved agricultural practices through collaboration with local landholders, alleviating impacts to riparian and sensitive foreshore areas, a reduction of in-stream erosion and sedimentation and impacts to estuarine vegetation communities such as saltmarsh, improved controlled access to the region’s iconic waterways and an increase in coastline biodiversity and improved water quality.

“The estuary program has helped Council and the community to protect our five major estuaries for more than a decade and we are thrilled to have recently received NSW Government funding to continue the work of this great program for the next three years,” Ms Patyus said.