1st March was a bulk pickup day for the Brisbane Waters Foreshore Program. Over the last couple of months large items removed during cleanup activities have been stock-piled at Paddy’s Channel and Mangrove Island until a bulk removal could be organised.
With the help of Brisbane Waters Secondary College, local oyster growers and Gosford City Council Catchment Management a mammoth amount of debris was removed from the local waterway in extremely wet and windy conditions.
Over two hundred decaying oyster trays were retrieved. These trays were extremely difficult to remove, due to their condition and the dense mangroves that surrounded their position. It was great to see local oyster growers Simon Funnel and Warren Harvey, again assisting with their barges being hired for the cleanup.
Some of the timber oyster trays were consistent to those on Pelican Island and the black square trays consistent to those pulled from Riley’s Island, with some of the square black trays stamped 2004.
With both boats loaded, the group departed leaving 50 trays and the old boat hull on Mangrove Island. Gosford Council trucks complete three trips with 1.8 tonne weighed in at Woy Woy Waste Disposal. This included 25 previously bagged items. Thanks to disposal fees covered by Gosford City Council Catchment Management. Meeting completed with Local State Member Chris Holstein, with positive issues discussed on the current and future program status.
There is still approximately one full truck load of oyster debris left on Mangrove Island plus a an old boat which will still need to be removed during a future bulk removal day.
Tangaroa Blue would like to congratulate Graham Johnston and everyone involved in the Brisbane Waters Foreshore Program for their huge efforts in bringing the marine debris issue in this area to light and the removal of such an immense amount of locally sourced debris from the waterways.
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