Umina Rotary hears about Clean4Shore success
Manager of waterways clean-up project, Clean4Shore, Mr Graham "Jono" Johnston, has told the Rotary Club of Umina Beach about the success of is project.
Mr Johnston said the aim was to remove rubbish from the Central Coast waterways while educating high school students to become environmental warriors.
He said engaging young students was the measure of the program's success and that he had seen a significant improvement and cleanliness in the local estuaries.
The Return and Earn program for redeeming cans and bottles for cash had also contributed to less tidal estuary rubbish.
However, recently students collected 1320 plastic bottles washed up on an island in Phegans Bay, he said.
Mr Johnston said the floods in February and March resulted in a huge amount of rubbish floating down the Hawkesbury River.
He said most of the rubbish, which included such items as fridges, lounges, containers, trees and even caravans, ended up on the local beaches and estuaries.
Mr Johnston said Clean4Shore had been operating since 2011 and currently had student involvement from seven high schools up to Lake Macquarie.
The project expanded into the Hunter River last year and retrieved thousands of bottles, corks, styrofoam containers and other general rubbish from around the Hexham Bridge.
It completed around 110 field trips each year with "community partners" providing skips for rubbish collection and Council assisting with tip fees.
Clean4Shore recently received a $250,000 Government grant to offset costs of fuel and maintenance of the boats and to purchase personal protective equipment for the participating students and volunteers.
SOURCE:
Newsletter, 7 Jul 2021
Bruce Croft, Rotary Umina Beach