The annual NSW Coastal Management Awards recognise the contributions individuals and organisations make toward the ecologically sustainable management of the state’s coastal zone.

Lake Macquarie City Council’s sustainability manager, Alice Howe, said council won the local government award for demonstrated excellence and innovation in coastal management.

“This is a wonderful acknowledgement for council,” Dr Howe said.

‘’We have integrated the management of the coast, the lake and the channel into a single coastal zone management plan.

“It will help protect those things most valued by residents – clean water, access to beaches, foreshore living, healthy dunes and wetlands – from erosion, floods, sea-level rise and over-development.”

The Lake Macquarie Landcare Network and Marks Point and Belmont South Local Adaptation Plan Community Working Group were jointly recognised as highly commended in the category of community involvement.

“Our community volunteers have contributed greatly to protecting and improving bushlands, wetlands and dunes across the city and protecting the community from lake flooding and future sea-level rise,” Dr Howe said.

The Landcare Network supports residents working in almost 300 local Landcare groups, while the Marks Point and Belmont South Community Working Group are residents who volunteered to work with council to develop an award-winning local adaptation plan to protect the community from lake flooding and future sea-level rise.

“The draft adaptation plan, which is currently on public exhibition, is the result of five years of planning and 18 months of extensive collaboration between council and local residents,” Dr Howe said.

For more details, and to have your say on the draft adaptation plan for Marks Point and Belmont South visit the council website  haveyoursaylakemac.com.au