More than 30 volunteers, some coming from as far afield as Brisbane, headed to Double Island Point over the weekend to give the area a much needed tidy-up. Approximately, ½ tonne (8 cubic metres) of rubbish was collected over 2 short hours, on the main beach, from the barge exit point to Freshwater camping grounds.
Volunteers were startled by the concentration of rubbish in this area, with only 5% of the 40 kilometre stretch being cleaned on the Sunday morning. Recent holiday and storm activity, the latter bringing and exposing more debris on the beach, have contributed to such a high concentration of rubbish in this natural environment.
Joe Jurisevic, Clean Up Australia Day Noosa Region Co-ordinator stated that, “It is a very big stretch of beach. It also shows what a vast task it would be to clean the entire stretch, something that would take a team of people many days to do completely and needs to be the ongoing focus of all campers and visitors to the North Shore.”
The majority of items found were broken hard plastics, of various sizes, indicating this debris had been circulated through ocean currents. Possible origins of the rubbish; which included ropes, personal hygiene items, aerosol cans, pallet packing strap, cigarette lighters, bottle caps, cleaning products and glass bottles, could be from land sources further south and locally and offshore boats.
The most unusual items found were a toilet seat and food packaging not normally bought in Australia.
The clean-up was a collaboration between Surfrider Foundation Sunshine Coast and Cleanwater Constructions, with further support from Burnett Mary Regional Group and Coolum Coastcare.
The Double Island Point beach clean-up will be held each year, after Easter, and in the future will include camping over the entire weekend for volunteers to be able to enjoy the natural amenities more.
Contact Aaron on 0449686746 to register your interest for future post-Easter Double Island Point beach clean-ups.
For more information on the Surfrider Foundation Sunshine Coast visit: www.surfrider.org.au or contact us on 0405 567 930 or surfridersunshine@live.com. Surfrider Foundation Australia is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the protection of waves and beaches. We do this through Conservation, Activism, Research and Education (CARE). The foundation has 29 Branches and Beach Representatives nationwide.
Media Contact:
Sally Atkinson| President | Surfrider Foundation Sunshine Coast | 0405 567 930 | surfridersunshine@live.com
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