FINALISTS in environmental awards include Quandamooka man Lordie Walker from North Stradbroke Island and conservationists who cleaned up the site of a fishermen’s hut on Cobby Cobby Island in Moreton Bay, emptying a bottle dump .5 metre deep by 20 metres long.
Cobby Cobby was the first declared national park in southern Moreton Bay and can be reached only by boat.
Southern Moreton Bay Island Coastcare group cleaned the shoreline and bottle dump, with the fishermen’s hut next to go.
The project was one of the finalists in the Healthy Land and Water Awards which revealed an extraordinary range of jobs undertaken by everyday Queenslanders to protect and enhance their local environment.
Projects ranged from tagging tiger sharks off the Sunshine Coast to reducing mud pollution in Moreton Bay.
Healthy Land and Water chief executive Julie McLellan said finalists for the 10 awards’ categories showed the dedication communities had for their favourite local places, whether it was marine or freshwater habitats, rainforests or rich agricultural areas.
“We’ve had an incredible response to this year’s awards, with a wide range of different projects showing how passionate south-east Queenslanders are about their natural environment,” Ms McLellan said.
“We are lucky to live in such a beautiful and vibrant part of the world, so it’s not surprising that local communities, businesses and governments are so dedicated to keeping it healthy and productive.”
“Now that the finalists have been announced, we are urging south-east Queenslanders to show their support for our unsung environment heroes by voting for their favourite project in the People’s Choice Award,” Ms McLellan said.
“These dedicated individuals are out there every day working for very little monetary reward to protect and enhance the places and wildlife we all love, so let’s give them the recognition they deserve.”
Finalists include Quandamooka man Lordie Walker from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), whose work as a Quandamooka land and sea ranger has been an inspiration for the local community.
Lordie is a finalist in the Junior Environment Champion Award.
For a list of finalists and to vote for your favourite environmental hero in the People’s Choice Award, visit www.hlw.org.au/awards