Communities team up to clean up the Derwent

LOCAL businesses and community groups have again joined forces with the Derwent Estuary Program to crack down on litter in and around the Derwent for Clean-Up Australia Day 2023.

More than 70 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to tidy Cleburne Point and Shag Bay on the Eastern Shore and the Prince of Wales Bay foreshore in Glenorchy, From the three sites, volunteers took away approximately 7500 pieces of soft plastic; 600 plastic bottles; 600 cans; 70 plastic straws; 50 surgical masks; and countless pieces of polystyrene and other items like fishing line, packing straps, building materials, tyres, take-away food containers and cigarette butts.

A group of 16 volunteers, from organisations including Conservation Volunteers Tasmania, Sea Shepherd and the state government, collected a range of large items from Cleburne Point;

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while another group of 16 volunteers paddled around Shag Bay picking up rubbish thanks to Roaring 40s Kayaking.

“We are lucky to host such a variety of incredible natural resources here in Clarence but sadly litter and thoughtlessly discarded waste is an increasing threat to our beaches, waterways and bushlands,” Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley said.

“Clarence has many dedicated Landcare and Coastcare volunteers and

I’m incredibly proud of the selfless work they do – and they are always looking for more volunteers if anyone would like to get involved.” See someone littering? Report them via the EPA’s online Litter Hotline or phone 1300 135 513.