River Clean Project at Pine Rivers
by Ross C.
Preparing to launch at Leis Park
As a result of the effort of Councillor David Dwyer and Pine Rivers Shire Council's Graeme Ferguson, Saturday 13th November was organised for a community clean up of the North Pine, South Pine, and Pine Rivers.
By 9:00am a contingent of local organisations as well as a bunch of community minded residents had gathered at Dohles Rocks, Acacia Park, Bob Bell Park and Leis Park.
Local residents getting into the spirit of things
Included in the organisations represented were Dayboro Lions Club, Petrie Lions Club, Pine Rivers Fish Management Association, Kallangur Scouts, Pine Rivers Services Fishing Club, Breakout Adventures, and a Policeman from Petrie (off duty of course).
Volunteer craft including powerboats, fishing boats, kayaks, and canoes were allocated various sections of the river to clean and I ended up in a group of three kayaks and one canoe using the high tide to cover the North Pine River from Leis Park upstream almost to One Mile Creek (a distance of three kilometres).
Gotcha!
Councillor Dwyer had come well prepared and provided us with plenty of empty rubbish bags to fill as well as mechanical extension arms to pick up those objects that were out of reach or up in the mangrove branches.
A canoe with three bags of rubbish on board and more still to come
By progressing along the river edges as well as crisscrossing the river, each craft collected several full bags of floating rubbish which included large and small plastic drink containers, soft-drink cans, beer bottles, plastic bags, foam pieces of all sizes, bits of timber, dozens of tennis balls, a cricket bat, soccer balls, fishing floats, plastic cigarette lighters, aerosol cans, plastic margarine tubs, and even a shopping trolley.
What a lot of rubbish from such a small section of river
After nearly four hours of sweaty work on a very hot day our section of river was cleared of all the floating objects and rubbish that we could get at and we were amazed to see that we had almost filled a large dump bin with so much junk. It is hard to believe that the unthinking minority of irresponsible people had simply left behind all this rubbish whilst picnicking in the local parks or enjoying the river from boat or bank.
North Pine River - before the clean up
North Pine River - after the clean up (and as it should look)
Courtesy of David Dwyer, the morning's activities culminated in a sausage sizzle and a welcome cup of coffee for all the workers at Leis Park and a similar barbecue was organised at Dohles Rocks for those volunteers cleaning closer to the mouth of the Pine River.
A big thank you goes to the community groups and residents who turned up to help save our rivers from the effects of "people pollution" and the Pine Rivers Shire Council is to be commended for organising this event.
I understand that plans are already underway at the Council to do it again next year.