NSW National Parks and Wildlife

A dedicated team from South Eastern NSW and East Gippsland who form the Australia's Coastal Wilderness Steering Committee have won this year's Australia's National Landscapes Tourism Achievement award.

Committee chair Tim Shepherd, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Regional Manager for the Far South Coast, says the award recognises the importance tourism economies place on environmental conservation and how tourism operators and organisations, local government, and state government can work together toward shared aims.

"The coastal wilderness between Montague Island and Marlo is a uniquely beautiful part of Australia, and indeed the world, and should be shared widely," Mr Shepherd said.

"With care, increasing visitation to Australia's coastal wilderness will not be at the expense of the delicate ecosystems and visiting wildlife,"

"We want to promote our region to discerning visitors who make the most of coastal experiences while respecting the environment or even enhancing conservation by becoming involved in voluntary conservation work.

"Those involved in this award promote volunteer tourism such as penguin conservation work on Montague Island, weed control in Nadgee Nature Reserve and conservation efforts through Coast Action Groups in Victoria.

"I commend the steering committee for all their work promoting the concept of Australia's Coastal Wilderness as a national landscape and I am certain the region will see benefits.

"Along with places such as the Flinders Ranges, Kakadu and the Kimberley, Australia's Coastal Wilderness will now become the focus of Tourism Australia's international promotion," Mr Shepherd said.

The award recognises Australia's Coastal Wilderness commitment to enhancing visitor experiences, developing new visitor infrastructure and deepening stories of the landscape.

Image by Stuart Cohen