Hosting a Clean Up Australia Day event has proved a great way for Landcare groups to get their community outdoors and involved in caring for the local environment. This is how many Landcare groups first got started in the ‘80s and ‘90s. This year a number of Landcare groups in the Hunter hosted Clean Up Day events with great results and mountains of rubbish collected. Well done to everyone that lent a hand!
Photo (and cover photo) courtesy: Walka Landcare
The first Clean Up event hosted by Walka & Rutherford Landcare Groups at Walka Water Works resulted in a plethora of rubbish collected from the site. This included a concerning amount of waste posing hazards to local wildlife, including car parts, rusting iron frames, wire, and discarded tyres. This much needed clean-up was a great start to the recently formed Walka Landcare Group who are caring for this important site in Maitland.
Photo courtesy: The Friends of Tomaree National Park
At the same time, the Friends of Tomaree National Park, assisted by National Parks and Wildlife Service, collected rubbish along the coastal areas of Little Kingsley, Fishermans Bay and Anna Bay. The bush, beach and rock platforms were scoured, resulting in a decent pile of wind-blown and dumped rubbish.
The most unusual piece of garbage was perhaps the lawnmover removed from Walka.
See the results from 35 years of Clean-Ups and how to organise your own event here: Clean Up Australia Day – Clean Up Australia