Whitehaven named cleanest beach in Queensland

WHITEHAVEN Beach has been named Queensland's Cleanest Beach at the 2008 Clean Beach Challenge State Awards run by Keep Australia Beautiful.

There were a total of 105 beaches entered. Council's Deputy Mayor, Cr Rogin Taylor, attended the awards at Parliament House in Brisbane this week and said Whitehaven was deserving of the gong.

“The education program is outstanding with a number of schools acting as 'Reef Guardians' and all tourist operators educated to ensure that the beach can be enjoyed by their visitors while leaving the beach undamaged and free of rubbish,” he said.

Whitehaven Beach, a seven kilometre stretch of untouched pure silica white sand is a Queensland icon.

CEO of Keep Australia Beautiful Carole Miller said Whitehaven was undoubtedly one of the world's top ten beaches. She said it was so beautiful that its thousands of visitors were accepting responsibility to care for it while they were there. She said the secret was the “Ship it in, ship it out” environment policy.

“There are no barbecues, playgrounds or signs and not even a litter bin. Dogs are not allowed and cigarette smoking is prohibited,” she said.

She congratulated the hard working field officers, the Whitsunday community, the Friends of Whitehaven, the Whitsunday Regional Council, the Reef Guardian Schools and the commercial operators.

“Together they're doing a superb job,” Ms Miller said.