Brett Whiteley (Braddon, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Domestic and international tourists may be forgiven for thinking that the best beaches in Australia are only found in those uncomfortably hot and humid northern states. But one of the best beaches in Australia is found in my electorate of Braddon—Godfrey's Beach. Just a few days ago, Godfrey's Beach was recognised at the National Keep Australia Beautiful, Australian Sustainable Cities and Clean Beaches Awards 2013, receiving the award for community leadership and action. More than simply recognising the beauty of the beach itself, this award exemplifies what it means to be part of the Stanley community.

The project to keep the beach as a sustainable tourist attraction for northern Tasmania has drawn together the Circular Head Council, Cradle Coast NRM, Parks and Wildlife, the Circular Head Landcare group, Stanley Discovery Museum and, notably, the Stanley Primary School. Under the guidance of Stanley Primary School Association Chair Sue Smedley and Principal Peter Brown, students at the school have taken a leading role in ensuring not only that the beach remains clean but that the area is managed in an environmentally sustainable manner.

It is no wonder that, when Keep Australia Beautiful reflected on the cooperation of the organisations involved in this project, they said, 'It was obvious that a special spirit emerges where a community has a strong and enduring connection to its local environment.' I concur with these comments and again congratulate all those involved with this project, particularly the students and staff of Stanley Primary School.

See this speech in context