Education and art will combine on the Lake Illawarra foreshore through a project designed to raise awareness of the impact of storm water pollutants on the lake's wildlife.
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Three sculptures of a pelican, fish and turtle will be installed on the foreshore as part of Shellharbour City Council's new art trail.
On Wednesday, Warilla artist Bettina Purdie started working on the hand-made ceramic tiles for the sculptures at Shellharbour Village Exhibition Space.
Stormwater pollutants, such as bottles and cans found in the foreshore area, will be pressed into the sculptures.
The work on the clay tiles will continue until Friday with any interested community members welcome to lend a hand at the space.
The pelican, fish and turtle were selected as the community's favourite inhabitants of the lake through a poll at Shellharbour Council's Australia Day Breakfast by the Lake celebrations.
Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba said the artworks were "a dynamic way" to get the message across about the harmful impact of littering and storm water pollution on our environment.
The sculptures will be installed in Pelican View Reserve, on the western side of the Windang Bridge at the end of June and will link with the $20,000 foreshore art trail endorsed by the council last August, with the money coming from the council's Southern Phone Company dividend.
The council has commissioned four local artist groups to each create a wooden totem pole, using different techniques and materials including paint, glass and carvings for the trail.
Each pole will be unique and will reference a different theme relating to the lake's history, Aboriginal heritage, and flora and fauna.
The totem poles will be installed along a three kilometre stretch between Boonerah Point Reserve and Pelican View Reserve.