Today I congratulate the Adopt a Beach Team from Surfrider Foundation Northern Beaches on being named the 2026 Community Group of the Year by Northern Beaches Council. For 34 years the Surfrider Foundation has been protecting our coastlines. In 2025 the Northern Beaches branch launched the Adopt a Beach program in response to the growing threat of coastal pollution. The initiative has driven 95 clean-up events, with over 1,300 volunteers, removing more than 50,000 items of litter and making a real difference to the health of our beaches and waterways. It has also created valuable data for the Northern Beaches Marine Debris Impact Report, which has helped identify litter hotspots and informed strategies to reduce coastal pollution, such as prevention programs and litter bins, keeping our beaches cleaner and safer for everyone. The Adopt a Beach Team's dedication has generated a movement in our community to create lasting change for our environment. I thank the Adopt a Beach Team for their outstanding commitment to protecting our environment. Well done.
Read the Community Recognition Statement in the NSW Hansard, here