Hawkesbury River Foreshore Clean-up Coordinator Graham Johnston and the Macmasters Beach Surf Club hit the water on the 4th January 2013 for their first clean up of the New Year!
The goal of the day was the monitor and remove small litter from the popular isolated small beaches in the Lower Hawkesbury River and Cowan Creek following the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The team consisted of the 14-year age group from the surf club and included Bridgett, Lana, Jesse, Nathan, Nick, Matt, Peter, Jobe, Clancy Assisting Members: Jim Myers, Lisa Odonahue and Troy Myers (jet ski).
The group launched from Patonga on a rising tide with pending sea breezes and it was encouraging to find just a small amount of litter on all beaches, but abundant food packages were evident.
A large concrete covered foam block, possibly the one at Derrubbin Reserve boat ramp, had washed up at Hungry Beach and larger amounts of litter were found at Little Jerusalem Bay (two bags). The back end of this bay had not been checked for twelve months. There was a very large presence of boats and craft on the water, due to the public holidays and the Foreshore Clean Up Program was able to explain to many boat owners about the importance of proper rubbish disposal, all of who provided a positive response.
In total twelve half bags were filled, and the litter deposited in the Patonga boat ramp council bins. Strong sea breezes picked up on the return trip and made the water very choppy.
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