Pilbara towns vie for tidy awards

Councils within the Pilbara have done well in this year’s Tidy Towns competition, with Newman, Marble Bar and Port and South Hedland among those to be named as finalists in several categories.

Both Newman and Hedland have been nominated as a finalist in the overall State winner’s division, with Newman also voted a State finalist from 57 entries in the environmental sustainability, young legends and environmental education categories.

Town of Port Hedland chief executive Mal Osborne said the Town was pleased to learn that Port and South Hedland had been nominated as a State Finalist in the overall State category as well as the clean beaches, environmental sustainability, young legends and heritage and culture categories.

“The Town has identified a focus on our natural environment in our strategic community plan and our nominations in these categories showcase that we are providing our community with an attractive place to live and call home that is sustainably balanced with our natural surroundings and cultural heritage,” he said.

Following judging, Pretty Pool and Cemetery Beach were selected as finalists to represent WA in the national Clean Beaches Awards.

Care For Hedland spokeswoman Melissa Wood said the group had helped the town to stay tidy with regular adopt-a-spot clean-ups on the fourth Saturday of each month as well as recycle days held every second Saturday of the month.

Marble Bar was voted a State finalist in the category of community action and wellbeing with the winning submission including the Marble Bar Billy Cart Grand Prix, jerky competition, movie nights, monthly markets and the Swim for Fruit program.

Shire of East Pilbara president Lynne Craigie said Tidy Towns Sustainable Communities Awards were not just about the aesthetics of a town as you drive through it.

“Certainly litter prevention and waste management are an important driving factor, however, these awards also recognise outstanding community achievements in the use of recycled waste water on our green space,” she said.

“The awards also recognise achievements by younger members of our community; examples of which include our urban art workshops at the Newman Youth Centre as well as environmental education programs such as South Newman Primary School’s fantastic garden complete with ducks and geese and the amazing work in our community by Greening Australia.”

State category winners and the overall State winner will be announced at a gala ceremony on September 23.