Report helium balloon releases

Releasing balloons into the environment is littering and illegal in Victoria.

From 1 July 2021, EPA will have increased powers to prevent harm to the environment from pollution and waste.

There are penalties for releasing balloons into the environment.

Under section 115 of the Environment Protection Act 2017, fines are:

• up to six penalty units ($991) for a person
• up to 30 penalty units ($4956) for a company.

For a series of balloon releases, and if taken to court, penalties are:

• up to 100 penalty units ($16,522) for a person
• up to 500 penalty units ($82,610) for a company.

If your activities, such as using helium balloons, pose a risk to the environment, you must take steps to minimise the risks.

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No Balloon Release Australia calls on the NSW Government to ban helium balloons in its Single-Use Plastics Plan in line with expert wildlife advice

No Balloon Release Australia calls on the NSW Government to ban helium balloons in its Single-Use Plastics Plan in line with expert wildlife advice

Calls for action on helium filled balloons to be included in the NSW Single-Use Plastics Plan are being made after the NSW Government  clearly disregarded scientific, AMDI and wildlife expert advice on the issue.

Spokesperson for No Balloon Release Australia, Karen Joynes, said there is incontrovertible evidence, both academic and anecdotal, that prove balloons kill wildlife, yet New South Wales still allows up to 19 balloons to be released. The Single-Use Plastics Plan should at least remove the Protection of the Environment Operations Amendment (Balloons) Act 2000 No 82.

Read more “No Balloon Release Australia calls on the NSW Government to ban helium balloons in its Single-Use Plastics Plan in line with expert wildlife advice”

Mass Balloon Ban Town of Victoria Park

The Town of Victoria Park in Western Australia has decided to ban the mass release of helium balloons at town events. Local residents expressed concerns about their impact on the environment after a council event included a mass release of balloons earlier this year. On April 15th, 2015 council voted 7-1 in favour to the balloon release ban after tow public consulations meeting had been held, showing overwhelming support by the community in the law.

To listen to an interview with Trevor Vaughan – Mayor of the Town of Victoria Park visit theage.com.au

City of Fremantle Balloon Ban Campaign

Article from www.watoday.com.au
Environmentalist Lisa Hills is mounting a one-woman campaign to get the City of Fremantle to ban latex balloons in the port city to protect marine life. Lisa Hills Interview

Ms Hills said she decided to start an online petition because she became alarmed by the handful of balloon particles she was collecting each week from stores near South Beach.

The WA Seabird Rescue volunteer said most people were unaware of the damage the latex balloons posed to the environment and marine animals, which Ms Hills claimed could die as a result of them.

“I know the damage latex balloons can cause to wildlife and the environment,” she said. “Each day I would pass a store near to my home that put up around 50 latex balloons a day. This store is also very close to the ocean.”

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Reducing Balloon Releases Through Church Networks

Balloon releases are often associated with memorials or celebrations, which can be hard to get changed at the last minute, which is normally when we hear about them! Rev Linda Chapman Rector from the Anglican Parish of Moruya & Open Sanctuary at Tilba in southern NSW has launched a new education campaign through her church networks to explain to clergy members and celebrants the impacts that balloon releases have on the environment and some great alternatives.

Rev Chapman has shared her letter with Tangaroa Blue Foundation to inspire others in finding ways of reducing balloon releases during these kind of events. Please see her letter below.

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