Pittwater Life January 2024 Issue

Giant Cuttlefish snap wins day
stunning image of a giant cuttlefish
A swooshing through shallow water
at Manly’s Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic
Reserve has won the third annual
UNDERWATER! 2023 Photo Competition.
As part of Northern Beaches Council’s
30th Ocean Festival, the competition
featured captivating images of
underwater life at the five Aquatic
Reserves on the Northern Beaches
by new, emerging and established
underwater photographers.
The competition’s judges said Talia
Greis’ winning image ‘Torpedo’ (above)
“beautifully captures one of the
Northern Beaches most iconic species
and is technically masterful”.
In addition to the overall winner, there
were eight other winners, one from each
of the competition’s categories as well as
a People’s Choice winner.
For the first time this year, a special
category was included to appeal to
underwater videographers.
More than 225 images were submitted
in 2023, twice the number of entries
from 2022.
The competition’s People’s Choice
award was won by Alana Abercrombie for
her image, Taking a Breath – a fascinating
photo features a turtle’s view of the urban
coast. This category was judged online by
more than 1000 residents.
Meanwhile the inaugural Northern
Beaches Ocean Festival drew 100
enthusiastic participants to Bongin
Bongin Bay last month for a marine sand
sculpture event (above). The familyfriendly
activity promoted the crucial
message of supporting marine life against
the backdrop of marine conservation.
The festival’s success marked a
powerful kick-off to Ocean Festival week,
emphasising the urgency of marine
conservation and aligning with the 30x30
campaign for community engagement.
*View UNDERWATER! images on
Council’s website.
News
backgrounds have access to the
same opportunities as others
living in the community. Mayor
Sue Heins said: “Our plan
means local multicultural communities
will have a seat at the
decision-making table and are
able to be active and engaged
members of our community.”
The plan was developed with
input from more than 500
community members, including
many from a multicultural
background, who communicated
their experiences
living, working or visiting the
Northern Beaches. The draft
plan will go on public display
from mid-January to the end
of February.
Enviro Grants
worth $50,000
Northern Beaches Council has
approved $50,000 in environmental
grants for projects in
2024 aimed at delivering a
positive impact on the local
environment. Council says
recipients will deliver direct
benefit via hands-on creek
bank stabilisation works,
online solar training and bush
regeneration. In the current
program, 10 projects will
receive full funding of $5,000
per project and two will be
awarded partial funding for
projects beginning in December.
All projects are required to
be completed by 31 December
2024. See the full list on NB
Council’s website.
Annual Report
highlights works
Northern Beaches Council has
released its annual report for
the 2022/23 financial year
highlighting what it said was
a year of growth, innovation,
and milestone achievements
across various areas. Northern
Beaches Mayor Sue Heins
described the year as one of
Continued on page 24
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JANUARY 2024 23