The Budgewoi Beach Dunecare team, led by Phil Heaton OAM, walked away with the prestigious Coastcare Award at the State-wide Landcare awards last week.
Budgewoi Beach Dunecare has undertaken Coastal rehabilitation works along Budgewoi Beach since 1995.
Since its inception, a small group of volunteers, led by Phil Heaton who was last year honoured with an OAM, have transformed 2km of Budgewoi Coastline from a degraded weed infested, sand mined wasteland into a balanced coastal ecosystem.
Budgewoi Beach Dunecare has been instrumental in successfully implementing innovative restoration techniques, some of which are documented in the Coastal Dune Management Manual adopted by Wyong Shire Council in 2006.
Featuring eight diverse categories ranging from farming, Coastcare and Indigenous land management, the winners were announced as part of the NSW Landcare and Local Land Services conference.
Heaton, who is also a resident of Budgewoi, said the group was honoured to be nominated for the award and given a chance to share their story.
“I would like to thank everyone who has supported our group and joined our community over the years. It has really been a team effort.
“Over the last 26 years, our volunteers have rehabilitated approximately 32 hectares of dunes and some parts inland of the dunes, all the way up to the Lake Munmorah State Conservation Area.
“Through the dedication of our members, Budgewoi Beach Dune Care has successfully rehabilitated the Budgewoi Beach dunes and continues to make improvements to allow the area to thrive,” he said.
Landcare NSW CEO, Turlough Guerin, congratulated Budgewoi Beach Dune Care saying the awards were a chance for Landcare groups to share their stories and successes with their fellow Landcarers from around the state.
“The NSW Landcare Awards highlight the incredible work our Landcare community do. On behalf of the Landcare NSW community, I congratulate everyone for their outstanding efforts,” Mr Guerin said.
2021 NSW Landcare Award winners:
Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award – Julie Holstegge
Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award – Australian Association of Bush Regenerators
Australian Government Landcare Farming Award – ‘Jillamatong’
Coastcare Award – Budgewoi Beach Dunecare Inc.
Australian Community Media Landcare Community Group Award – Upper Mooki Landcare Inc.
Woolworths Junior Landcare Team Award – Ivanhoe Central School
KPMG Indigenous Land Management Award – Nari Nari Tribal Council
Steadfast Young Landcare Leadership Award – Joel Orchard
Grand champions of the NSW National Award categories will now go on to represent the whole NSW Landcare Community at the 2022 National Landcare Awards in Sydney.
Nicola Riches