Keep Australia Beautiful

The New South Wales town of Lithgow has been announced the Overall Winner of the Keep Australia Beautiful, Australian Tidy Towns Awards 2010/11. The announcement was made at the national awards ceremony held last night at Beechworth in Victoria, the winner of the prestigious award last year.

As well as winning the overall Australian title, Lithgow won the Environmental Innovation and Protection award and received a commendation in the Water Conservation and the Heritage and Culture category awards.

Roger Bailey - GM Lithgow City Council
Don Chambers - Keep Australia Beautiful National Chairman
Fay Quinell - Lithgow Tidy Towns Committee
Jenny Pickles - Packaging Stewardship Forum
Sue Graves - Lithgow Tidy Towns Committee
Neville Castle - Mayor Lithgow City Council
Anne Wells - Lithgow Tidy Towns Committee
Tim McCurdy MP - Murray Valley, VIC
George Quinell - Lithgow Tidy Towns Committee
Cr Col Hunter - Lithgow City Council
Pat Thomas - Lithgow Tidy Towns Committee
Suzanne Lollback - Lithgow City Council

According to the Australian Tidy Towns National Judge, Dick Olesinski, Lithgow‟s community members demonstrate a great sense of commitment and pride.

"Led by Lithgow‟s longstanding Tidy Towns committee and the Lithgow City Council, the community as a whole is involved in a wide range of initiatives to ensure a sustainable future for their town.

"The town‟s active Swampwatch network continues to restore large areas of swampland, monitoring any damage or problems with the swamp system, whilst various water conservation initiatives are also in place throughout Lithgow," he added.

Lithgow was recognised for their commitment to environmental improvement projects and their efforts to replenish native vegetation, including replanted native areas and the protection of the unique bush swamps.

There is also a strong focus on increasing community awareness of the benefits of water conservation with projects including the collection and reuse of rainwater, as well as the unique nursery pot washing system devised in conjunction with the Lithgow Community Nursery.

Community groups in Lithgow are also passionate about historic preservation and restoration to ensure important historic facilities and events continue to be recognised by the community, including the world renowned Zig-Zag Railway which was recently restored.

Chairman of Keep Australia Beautiful National Association, Don Chambers, said "the Tidy Towns awards and their participants provide great examples of what individuals and their communities can achieve by working together sustainably. Well done to everyone involved in Lithgow, your efforts are helping to make a real difference and will provide inspiration to other local communities."

Through the Australian Tidy Towns Awards, Keep Australia Beautiful is able to recognise local community and individual efforts that are helping rural and regional communities to become environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. The awards are sponsored by "Do the Right Thing‟ and Replas.