East Gippsland residents considered to have made positive change to the Victoria’s coastal and marine areas should be nominated for the 2018 Victorian Coastal Awards, says Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull.

 

Mr Bull said the awards recognised the people and organisations helping to protect local coastal and marine areas, of which East Gippsland is abundant.

 

“We live in an amazing part of the world rich in natural beauty with pristine coastlines, the world renowned Gippsland Lakes and a number of beautiful inlets and rivers, all often cared for by ‘friends of’ groups, individual volunteers, committees of management and a number of other organisations,” he said.

 

“These people volunteer so much time in protecting our region’s natural beauty and for this work, they deserve to be recognised and these awards are the ideal way to say ‘thanks’.”

 

In their 17th year, the awards aim to highlight the importance of the community and partnerships in safeguarding Victoria’s coastal and marine areas.

 

Nominations are sought in the following categories:

 

• Improving the physical environment;
• Biodiversity Conservation;
• Education;
• Community Engagement;
• Planning and management;
• Research and monitoring;
• Outstanding individual achievement.

 

Mr Bull said nominations would close on Friday, February 23, 2017, with the awards being presented at a gala ceremony next April.

 

Further information and nomination forms are available at www.vcc.vic.gov.au.

 

 

Friday, December 8, 2017