Major clean-up of Brisbane Water

A major clean-up of the Brisbane Water took place on February 14, with local oyster farmers and clean4shore members descending onto the foreshore for the mass industry led Tide to Tip event.

This is the fourth year of Tide to Tip, which is organised by OceanWatch Australia and sees oyster growers lead marine debris clean-ups in estuaries across the state.

An OceanWatch spokesperson said being out on the water every day, oyster farmers have an intimate knowledge of the local environment and regularly collect rubbish they find floating in the estuary.

“Tide to Tip not only provides a way for fishers and farmers to give back to the estuaries on which their livelihoods depend but helps to ensure Australian waterways remain pristine and healthy for generations to come,” the spokesperson said.

Local oyster farmer David Bews said local farmers wanted to be involved in the event because they love the environment and protecting the waterway which is their living.

Tide to Tip involves 22 other estuaries across NSW, WA, and Queensland.

Not only do oyster farmers clean-up the area, participants also sort, curate and count the collected rubbish.

A summary of the waste is documented and analysed by the Australian Marine Debris Database – a program run by Tangaroa Blue Foundation.

Since it began Tide to Tip has seen 53 events take place, involving 664 volunteers and seeing more than 30 tonnes of waste removed from estuaries.

Partners include the NSW Department of Primary

THOMSON, Margaret

13.09.1929 – 16.02.2023

Aged 93 years

Margaret’s family respectfully advise that she passed away peacefully last Thursday. In accordance with her wishes a private cremation was held.

Sue Murray

Industries, South East and Hunter Local Land Services, Clean-up Australia, and OceanWatch Australia.

Source: Media release, Feb 17 OceanWatch Australia

MURDOCH, Philip George ‘Phil’

22nd February 2023, peacefully at Bellinger River District Hospital. Formerly of Berkeley Vale, Central Coast. Much loved husband of Heather. Loving father & father-in-law of Greg & Krystal. Caring brother of Di Murdoch. Phil will be sadly missed by all of his extended family & friends.

Aged 71 Years

Forever In Our Hearts

Residents are urging Central Coast Council to address major safety concerns along Oak Rd, Matcham, following the death of a local on February 24, 2022, who drowned when a surge of floodwater overflowed from one of two inadequate creek crossings.

While the general state of the road is extremely poor, of particular concern are the two crossings which pose a deadly risk during heavy rains.

Resident Richard Boughton said concerned community members met in April last year, following the fatality.

“He died because of Council’s inaction on these flood ways over a period of decades,” Boughton said.

“It was a foreseeable, but preventable death.

“Another car was washed into Maddens Creek a few kilometres further down Oak Rd and the occupants would surely have drowned had not bystanders come across them, broken the rear window and pulled them free.

“It’s not a matter of ‘will there be further tragedies?’ but ‘when and who?’.”

Boughton said residents had