The beaches of the Bega Valley are clean and weed free for a reason. It doesn’t just happen.

For 10 years the ‘Coastal Weeds Project’ has been forging partnerships with Government Departments, Local Council, Landcare Volunteers and Local Aboriginal Land Councils to clean our beaches of weeds and rubbish from Narooma to the Victorian border.

The Coastal Weeds Project strongly demonstrates the power of community. Something remarkable has been achieved over the last 10 years, unique in New South Wales, as unique as the coastline this project cares for. It’s work that points to the value of pitching in and getting your hands dirty, financial commitments are needed now to build on and maintain the success of the past and to keep our beautiful coastline clean and unspoilt.

This project is managed by the Far South Coast Landcare Association and has received key funding through the NSW Government’s Environment Trust.

From an economic perspective the project cares for the region’s key asset. Tourism is the most significant local industry and the coast is the main attraction for visitors. In the year ending September 2016, Sapphire Coast Tourism reported visitor numbers of 840,000 visitors, injecting nearly $350 million into the local region, generating around 3500 plus direct and indirect local jobs. Local Tourism Chief, Anthony Osborne points to increasing visitor numbers on the back of the highly successful “Unspoilt South Coast” global marketing campaign.