Macarthur’s local environment and photography skills are being celebrated this week with the announcement of this year’s Macarthur Nature Photography Competition winners.

The annual competition, hosted in conjunction with Campbelltown City Council and Wollondilly Shire Council, invited residents of all ages to enter their most striking, engaging and enticing images of local plants, wildlife and natural environment taken from within the Macarthur area.

This year’s themes included Australian plants, Australian animals, people helping the environment and water in the landscape, with winners including:

Primary school winners

• Australian Plants winner – Evie Simpson
• Australian Animals winner – Tiahna Prudey
• Water in the landscape winner – Quinn Wilson
• People Helping the Environment winner – Zoe Blandino

High school winners

• Australian Plants winner – Isabelle Brunero
• Australian Animals winner – Ashleigh Tamayo
• Winner in the landscape winner – Denita Das
• People Helping the Environment winner – Hayden Wilson

Open category

• Australian Plants winner – Nathan Armstrong
• Australian Animals winner – Nathan Armstrong
• Water in the landscape winner – Rob Ulrich
• People Helping the Environment winner – Liesl Wrightson

People’s choice

• Summer Tuckey

Mayor of Camden, Cr Therese Fedeli, was impressed with the skills of many emerging photographers in the area.

“The Macarthur Nature Photography Competition allows residents to truly appreciate the environment they live amongst while testing themselves out with their cameras,” Cr Fedeli said.

“Winners this year had some of the most striking images that I have seen and showed the Macarthur environment in the best light.

“I congratulate each of the winners and encourage the community to continue enjoying the outdoors with a beautiful range of native plants and animals right on our doorstep in Camden.”

Winners took home a share of $3,000 worth of prizes in three categories including Primary School (years 12-15), High School (years 13-18) and open.

For more information on the Camden environment, go to www.camden.nsw.gov.au/environment