A number of groups have been recognised and awarded, for their work in the inaugural Marine Estate Champions Program.
Focusing on efforts to improve areas around Lake Illawarra, four standout projects were chosen, to receive industry support to help bring them forward.
The Judges Award went to Summer Brooks for her project Novelty bins for Windang – creating on-site behaviour change.
The Champions Choice Award, voted by the program’s participants, went to Marie Armstrong for her project Lake Illawarra Eco Heroes.
Kaityln Johnstone and Sarah Cook were awarded the prize from Nature Positive Australia for their Lake Illawarra Bioblitz Project.
Chloe Haigh will receive a digital storytelling mentorship with Coequal for her project ‘Clean Up Lake Illawarra’, a series of short videos to educate and inspire young people to be stewards of their environment.
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said the program was a fantastic opportunity for passionate, local people to step up and become community leaders.
For the next six months, each recipient will receive support from industry experts to progress their ideas in the hopes it becomes a reality
