Gold Coast beach cleans up at national awards

Tallebudgera Beach on the Gold Coast has taken out a major national award.

The beach, south of the main Gold Coast strip, was announced the overall winner of the Keep Australia Beautiful clean beaches awards for 2010/2011.

BeachCare co-ordinator from Griffith University's Centre for Coastal Management Naomi Edwards said she was both “delighted and overwhelmed” by Tallebudgera's success.

“This is a great achievement for us as this was a very tough competition with the other beaches all very deserving too," she said in a statement issued by the university.

"I am just very thankful to be in the position that I am, enabling others to become involved in coastal community awareness."

Ms Edwards said Tallebudgera deserved the recognition because of the way the community and Gold Coast City Council had protected the beach environment.

As well as winning the overall Australian title, Tallebudgera picked up awards in the Community Action and Partnerships, Litter Prevention and Young Legends categories.

Australian Clean Beaches national judge David Moy said the community partnerships between the council and the Griffith Centre for Coastal Management had “really driven the community spirit of Tallebudgera”.