Surf Coast Times
Tuesday 27 April 2010
VOL 8. No 17
www.surfcoasttimes.com.au
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Torquay’s ANZAC Day ceremony again drew thousands of people from throughout the state to witness the march and commemorative service. INSET: Norm Brown was one of a number of diggers who attended the service. Photos: PETER MARSHALL
PLASTIC FREE TORQUAY Surf Coast Energy Group begins push to make Torquay plastic bag free
BY NATHAN HALE
TORQUAY will become a plastic bag free town if an initiative from Surf Coast Energy Group goes ahead. The group is calling on all local shopkeepers to support the move to make plastic bags obsolete. Already, Anglesea and Aireys Inlet are plastic bag free towns, and Surf Coast Energy Group chair, Caroline Hawkins, believes Torquay can follow suit. “Anglesea has been plastic bag free for five years now and the community has been really supportive of
the initiative,� she said. “We will be forming a working group to see if it will work in Torquay. We will go and see the traders and supermarkets and shopkeepers and ask if they would like to support the move.� Hawkins said the idea had already gained support from Torquay Commerce and Tourism. “We will be doing quite a bit of consultation with the shopkeepers and community associations to see if we can get everyone on board,� she said. “Once that happens we can then set a launch date
where all shops agree that they will withdraw plastic bags on the same day.â€? Hawkins said reusable bags would replace the plastic bags – and she was hopeful the community would support the move – just as the Anglesea township has embraced it. “The community was very supportive – and still are – in Anglesea,â€? Hawkins said. “They are very proud to be a plastic bag free town‌ and even the tourists are behind it.â€? Hawkins said one of the biggest obstacles is the
community’s mindset. In order to help change that mindset, the group is holding a film night at Surfworld on Friday, May 14 with the feature called Message in the Waves. The film is shot in Hawaii and centres around surfing and how the ocean is being impacted by humans and how plastic is involved. Each year Australians use 6.9 billion plastic shopping bags. For more information, or to show your support, visit www.sceg.org.au
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