Beaches are a wonderful amenity but if not properly cared for they can be a health hazard both in and out of the water. Problems of water contamination from storm water outlets are now superseded by fear of needle stick injuries from syringes buried in sand.
Victoria’s Bayside City Council with responsibility for over 17 kilometres of Melbourne’s coast was especially grateful for additional funding in January from the State Government for beach cleaning.
Council had a program of regular beach cleaning in place at a cost of $203,000 per annum. Over the past two years the installation of 274 in pit litter traps and 11 gross pollutant litter traps has drastically reduced the amount of storm water borne pollution entering the bay and washing up on the beach.
The increased funding enabled a revised cleaning strategy to be developed for the remainder of Victoria’s very hot summer. This has resulted in increased cleaning of beaches in areas where the incidence of syringes found was higher. This was the case for beaches where large outfalls drain into the bay, and areas with limited access.
The additional cleaning services allowed immediate rejuvenation work to commence at one beach, a second mechanical clean per week at three others, and an additional daily inspection. Council also embarked on a campaign to increase community awareness of the problem and to research latest techniques in beach cleaning and funding options, such as resource sharing.
Chief Executive Ian Wilson said statistics indicate that the community’s awareness about the safe disposal of syringes has increased. “Bayside City Council is continuing to work with the community and others to gather a more complete picture of discarded syringes and in developing strategies to increase the awareness of what to do if you have or find a used syringe,” he said.
“Council believes factors including the installation of inpit litter traps and gross pollutant traps, syringe disposal units, along with education and awareness, have influenced a decline in the number of syringes collected on our beaches. The problem is significant and I believe we cannot become complacent about community safety, awareness and cleaning procedures.”
