An impressive Sunshine Coast group has taken out one of the World’s most prestigious environmental awards – the 2011 Australian National Riverprize worth $195,000.
The Sunshine Coast Rivers Initiative is a group of over 30 community groups and government agencies, headed by Sunshine Coast Council, totally dedicated to protecting and improving the waterways of our region.
The Riverprize was awarded this evening during the14th International Riversymposium, and rewards, recognises and supports those who have developed and implemented outstanding, visionary and sustainable programs in river management.
Environment Portfolio Councillor Keryn Jones said that it’s wonderful to have all the hard work recognised.
“Our environment, economy and lifestyle all depend on having, maintaining and improving clean, functional, healthy waterways,” Cr Jones said.
“This award shows that as a community, we’re working in the right direction together.
“The Initiative certainly unites an impressive collection of achievements involving improvements to creek-side vegetation, in-stream habitat, and land management practices as well as range of waterway health planning and research projects.
“Council’s recently adopted Waterways and Coastal Management Strategy provides a solid foundation for action and with community groups, three levels of government, industry and research organisations all working together – both within and between catchments – we’ve got a real recipe for success.”
Prize money will be used to fund innovative and catalytic waterway management and improvement projects across the Sunshine Coast.