The Goulburn River, Victoria, was the site of a community clean up event last month that netted 700 kg of rubbish.
After a small but successful clean up event, staged in April by a few individuals from Greater Shepparton community groups, caught the public’s attention, another river clean up was held in May.
Twenty participants representing RiverConnect, the Shepparton Canoe Club, Shepparton Mooroopna Urban Landcare Group, Veolia and enthusiastic local residents worked from a flotilla of 12 canoes and a boat from 9am on Saturday 18 May collecting rubbish from the river and its banks.
RiverConnect Project Officer, Meg Pethybridge, said the community was the driving force behind this mission.
“Our community is passionate about river health and the Goulburn is very lucky to have great supporters who joined together to help protect our beautiful waterways.”
Waste items pulled from the river included tyres, shopping trolleys, numerous bottles, camping equipment, chairs and couches, blankets and rugs, clothing, nappies, sharps and soft plastics.
Together with April’s haul 1500 kilograms of waste was removed from the river.
“We were disappointed about the amount of rubbish in the river and on the banks.
“Many recreational users of the river environment are respecting it, but unfortunately a small few are doing the wrong thing which damages the health of the river and the wildlife that depend on it.
“RiverConnect is proud to partner with the volunteers who help us with rubbish clean-ups and applauds the local residents who pick up rubbish in the river environment.
“We hope this will encourage more people to take their rubbish home and respect our waterways.”
