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  Sustainable Neighbourhoods Lake Macquarie
Lake Mac Awards 2020
We are thrilled to see the work of Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers recognised at the 2020 Lake Mac Awards, taking out both the 2020 Community Group of the Year and Environmental Leader Awards
Sustainable Neighbourhoods
Winner - Community Group of the Year Award

We are thrilled to receive the Community Group of the Year Award for outstanding community contribution!

Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers are passionate about a range of environmental and social issues and the importance of community participation.

In the 2018-19 financial year, we estimate our volunteers contributed more than 9,300 hours, equivalent to more than $279,000. We held over 90 activities such as Boomerang Bag workshops, nature play activities, litter clean ups, garden working bees and other events that engaged with over 6600 attendees.
The outcomes of our projects and activities are focused on community engagement, environmental education, encouraging behaviour change, creating a culture of inclusion, and sharing our community skills and assets.

Congratulations to all Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers for being a part of this incredible effort!

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Nico Marcar
Winner - Environmental Leader Award
Nico Marcar was presented with the Lake Mac Environmental Leader Award for outstanding Contribution to the Lake Macquarie environment.
Nico has been a champion of environmental and community initiatives for both the Westlakes area and the City of Lake Macquarie more broadly, over many years. Nico is the most positive person one could want in an organisation.
He actively and enthusiastically supports any project put forward by a member of the group, from planning stage to completion. If you needed glue to hold a group together, Nico is that glue.
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Nico has been Chairperson of Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group for 7 years. His strong leadership and ability to collaborate has been crucial for the group to develop into an incredibly effective team. During that time, Nico has made it his priority to make connections throughout the community with individuals and organisations, and this has been key to the group’s success and longevity.

He has been involved in all aspects of the group’s projects, including activities to encourage waste and plastic pollution reduction, establishing community gardens at the Hub and Carey Bay, supporting Coal Point Landcare and advocating for improved cycling and shared pathways.

Nico is a keen participant in the Sustainable Neighbourhood network, and a significant contributor to citywide projects and collaborations. He is one of the key organisers who established Lake Macquarie Repair Cafes, and contributed his bicycle repair skills to help participants maintain and repair their bikes. He maintains close associations with other Sustainable Neighbourhood groups and provides practical support for their projects.

Congratulations Nico and the whole Sustainable Neighbourhoods team!
Find out about upcoming Sustainable Neighbourhood events and activities.
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Sustainable Neighbourhoods Lake Macquarie
Our vision - Neighbourhoods that are empowered to live sustainably.
Our mission - Our work is to foster sustainable neighbourhoods and a healthy environment in Lake Macquarie
Our values - We are guided by our values of participation, inclusion, collaboration, empowerment and shared responsibility.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters on which we live, work and play, the Awabakal People, and acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who now reside in this area. We pay our respect to Elders past and present, and future cultural knowledge holders.

The Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance is registered as a not for profit incorporated association under NSW Fair Trading. Sustainable Neighbourhood activities are managed and governed by volunteers and financed through grants, collaboration and community fundraising.
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Sustainable Neighbourhoods is an initiative of Lake Macquarie City Council.
www.lakemac.com.au
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We are proud to be a Very Neighbourly Organisation and supporter of Neighbour Day.
www.neighbourday.org