These are volunteers who are prepared to roll up their sleeves and do everything from pull out noxious weeds by hand, to collect and dispose of rubbish, and rehabilitate damaged ecosystems in their communities.

And it’s a record of achievement that was formally recognised on Thursday when Lake Macquarie Landcare was named best Landcare partnership in Australia at the National Landcare Awards in Melbourne.

Lake Macquarie Landcare was recognised for the successful partnership between local Landcare volunteers and Lake Macquarie City Council.

The local environmental group was up against eight other nominees from across the country.

Lake Macquarie Landcare is the largest network of Landcare groups in NSW and works with almost 300 volunteer groups.

Carmel Brown, chair of the Lake Macquarie Landcare Network, was delighted to win.

“Landcare is based on volunteers, so to get recognised for volunteering is awesome,” Ms Brown said.

“We only have one planet, and we care deeply,” she said. “It means so much to the Landcarers to have that back-up from council, to know there’s a team of experts there that can help us with the heavy stuff.”

Ms Brown and Lake Macquarie Landcare co-ordinator, Jason Harvey, were at the presentation ceremony to receive the award.

Mr Harvey said the award was a huge honour and highlighted the potential of council and Landcare partnerships.

“This award clearly shows that council and Landcare partnerships are the future,” Mr Harvey said.

“State and federal governments have a clear obligation to support Landcare through funding and setting supportive policy, but it is local government that is best placed to provide tailored support to their own Landcare groups.

“Local government understands local environmental issues and have a stable structure from which to support the volunteers who do so much.”