Community comes together for Clean Up Australia Day

Recent rainfall did not dampen the spirits of one hundred community members who came together to remove 75 kg of rubbish from the Upper Ross River for Clean Up Australia Day.

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The clean-up drew a crowd of families, groups and community representatives, each keen to make a difference. NQ Dry Tropics was proud to work alongside ten local organisations and businesses, including Riverway Rotary, Bluewattle Residential Development and Aurizon.

Participants not only got involved in the clean up but also learnt about broader river health issues including water quality, aquatic weeds, and the importance of preserving creekbank vegetation.

Marcel Mcleod from Riverway Rotary said, “Clean Up Australia Day provided a great opportunity for our community to explore natural areas, and local assets like the Ross River.”

“It was great to see so many people united to clean up rubbish, particularly harmful plastics from our local waterways,” he said.

Millions of seabirds, turtles and mammals die each year by becoming entangled or ingesting plastics, including common household items such as plastic bags.

NQ Dry Tropics Project Officer Kirralee Donovan said, “80 per cent of plastic rubbish is generated on land before washing downstream, through stormwater drains and waterways, entering the offshore Great Barrier Reef.”

“It is important we consider the source of rubbish pollution before it becomes a problem.”

NQ Dry Tropics was proud to support this community event thanks to funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme,” she said.

For more information about similar upcoming events and environmental volunteer opportunities visit the Volunteering Dry Tropics Facebook page.