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The beach at Guilderton in Western Australia has been presented with the Keep Australia Beautiful, Australian Clean Beaches Award for 2015.

Guilderton also took home the award for Environmental Education while Burleigh Beach in Queensland came in at a close second in the Environmental Education award.

Presented at an event at Darwin's Parliament House the Award sees Guilderton gain further recognition for the quality of its beach, having won the Clean Beaches award in the Keep Australia Beautiful Council Western Australia's STAR Awards in 2014. It was this win that put them forward to compete for the National title for 2015.

Commenting on the win, Australian Clean Beaches judge Averil Bones stated "the most exceptional element of environmental education that occurs in Guilderton is embodied in the community's ongoing efforts to preserve the environmental values of the beach and estuary system."

The condition of the dunes and beach, particularly given the huge influx of tourists and its unprotected status, is testament to the community's appreciation of their unique environment and the importance of actively working to maintain it.

Backing Guilderton’s recognition is the role of the Northern Agricultural and Moore Catchment Councils who hold regular Environmental Educational Days and Workshops, with the endangered Carnaby's Black Cockatoos being a favourite.

Bones added "Guilderton residents participate in the Cocky Count and plant approximately 2,000 plant feed species for Carnaby's each year.”

Commenting on the 2015 program, Keep Australia Beautiful National Chief Executive Peter McLean stated “it's pleasing to see another year of high calibre National finalists from every corner of our amazing country.

"Each finalist exhibited significant outcomes in a range of sustainability projects and activities. The National Clean Beaches program allows each of them to learn even more, so that they can continue to thrive as a community and achieve success on their sustainability journeys and in keeping Australia's beaches and waterways clean."

The awards event included the finalists meeting and networking at Mindil Markets on the Thursday evening, with presentations about their projects on the Friday morning at the Trailer Boat Club. This was followed by a tour of Darwin Foreshore.

Australian Clean Beaches 2015 Winners Table

• Community Action and Wellbeing - Port Julia, South Australia 
• Dame Phyllis Frost Litter Prevention, Waste Management and Resource Recovery - Richardsons Beach, Tasmania 
• Heritage and Culture - Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, Northern Territory 
• Environmental Sustainability - Bondi Beach, New South Wales 
• Young Legends - Burleigh Beach, Queensland 
• Environmental Education - Guilderton, Western Australia 
  Runner Up - Burleigh Beach, Queensland 
• Keep Australia Beautiful, Australian Clean Beaches winner 2015 - Guilderton, Western Australia 

The Australian Clean Beaches Awards are sponsored by the Department for the Environment.

Through the Clean Beaches Awards Program, Keep Australia Beautiful share expert knowledge and experience to empower those who care about our beaches and waterways to actively work towards a cleaner, more sustainable marine environment. 

Click here to visit the Keep Australia Beautiful website.

12th June 2015 - AUSTRALIAN CLEAN BEACHES FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

13th May 2011 - GOLD COAST’S TALLEBUDGERA BEACH NAMED AUSTRALIA’S CLEANEST BEACH

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