The Dharumbal Traditional Owners coordinated a beach clean up along Farnborough Beach in collaboration with Tangaroa Blue and Surfrider Foundation on 11th August 2012, Saturday. The event took about 4hours and covered a total of 15.5km along Farnborough Beach.
There was great support from the community with 57 volunteers including Queensland Parks and Wildlife Rangers who removed 179.6kg of debris (about 20 bags). Data was also collected on what was found with a total of 2606 items sorted and counted which will be used to identify that part of the debris that was washed up by the ocean as well as those items which were left by visitors to the beach.
As usual the most comment items recorded were plastics mostly small bits and pieces, followed by plastic lids, plastic bottles, food wrappers and others. Also found in rather large quantities were aluminum cans, fishing line, thongs and timbers.
We even found a rather unusual item, a fully intact pair of fisherman wader pants. Among the debris were some international items such as water bottles from China, Malaysia and Japan as well as some bottle lids from Indonesia. 48 weather balloon pieces were also found which was quite a surprising number.
Malcolm Mann, a Dharumbal Traditional Owner coordinated the event and said: “Seven Dharumbal Traditional Owners and their families participated in the Farnborough Beach Cleanup Saturday 11th of August 2012. This event marked the first beach cleanup specifically inviting Dharumbal community members. This activity not only cleaned up a section of Dharumbal coastline, and gained important debris data but brought together a wide-range of community groups and management agencies with discussing future opportunities of similar caring for country work. This activity was a positive experience a great day out for all participants, particularly our Dharumbal custodians and are looking forward to the next beach cleanup.”
The President of Surfrider Foundation Capricorn Coast, John McGrath thought of the day as a great success. “It was classic people power covering that amount of area in only 4 hours which was impressive and satisfying. Caring for country alongside the Dharumbal people, with Tangaroa Blue’s expertise, was a real social affair and a way of showing support to the local Dharumbal people. Surfrider Foundation Capricorn Coast has made some new friends and great long-term connections under a brilliant winter sun. The debris was categorized by lunchtime allowing us to learn the types of pollution in Keppel Bay, and clues to their origin. Definitely looking forward to the next event.”
A huge token of appreciation to those who have made this clean up event such a great success: Dharumbal traditional owners and Elders, Byfield and Rosslyn Bay Yeppoon QPWS Rangers, Fitzroy Basin Association, Fitzroy River Coastal Catchments, Surfrider Foundation, Rockhampton North Side Family Church Youth group, Rockhampton Youth Justice, Sunshine Breeze Guides and Koiranah Ranger Guides, Caring for our Country and last but not least the surrounding community people. Thank you guys so much for your efforts. Looking forward to the next one!
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