Sunday, March 1st is Clean Up Australia Day, and it is more than 30 years have passed since the founding of the event on Sydney Harbour by Ian Kiernan AO, who sadly passed away on 16 October 2018.
Locally, the Noosa Integrated Catchment Association (NICA) is all set for Clean Up Australia Day with 22 registered sites around the Noosa Biosphere where you can join local community groups and volunteers to get involved.
The National event is the opportunity for all Australians everywhere to bring family, friends, neighbours and colleagues together to take action to protect their local environment to remove rubbish before it damages our precious parks, bushland, waterways and the ocean.
This year, NICA Chair Bruce Hallett, hopes to continue attention focused on cleaning-up sites along the Noosa river, and ridding the river of rubbish.
“NICA and many others continue cleaning up the Noosa River, wetlands, and creeks, and helping to maintain and enhance the health and natural amenity of our waterways, and have done for well over the past decade.
“The lower river, estuary and lakes are the central components of Noosa’s urban biosphere, and need our care and attention,” Mr Hallett said.
Local volunteer coordinator Joe Jurisevic and NICA Manager Gil Studdock are calling on that strong sense of Noosa spirit to be reflected once again in strong volunteer numbers participating in Australia’s biggest community event.
“As this year’s theme states, it is time to Step Up to Clean Up our parks, creeks, rivers, beaches, bushland and streets.
“As Noosa locals treasure the environment in which we live, I am sure that everyone is aware of an area that could benefit on Clean Up Australia Day. NICA volunteers have cleaned up over 100 tonnes of rubbish across the shire over the past 10 years as part of Clean Up Australia Day,” Mr Jurisevic said.There are many locations across the Noosa region where the public can register to be a part of the Clean Up. All Hinterland towns are involved including Boreen Point, Kin Kin, Cooran, Pomona and Cooroy with sites also located in Tewantin, Sunshine, Peregian and Castaways Beaches as well as Sunrise Shops and at the ferry if you are heading to the Noosa North Shore. Sites are advertised in the local papers and online at www.noosariver.com.au, or you can search for a site at cleanupaustraliaday.org.au
Community organisations will also be out in force once again with Bushcare, sporting, community and school groups cleaning up our parks and reserves, Teewah residents cleaning up the beach and bush, and the 4WD club targeting illegal dumping sites in our forests. Beach clean ups are also happening as part of the Festival of Surfing and at Noosa Spit in the afternoon.
Clean Up Australia Day in Noosa would not be a success without the generous support of the Noosa Shire Council and local businesses.
All volunteers registered at Noosa sites will again go into the draw for prizes generously donated by The Sofitel Noosa and Peppers Resort and Spa. Our Clean Up Day is also proudly supported by Cleanaway and Allcott Hire to ensure that all the waste is disposed of properly.
All volunteers are welcome to join us for lunch at Noosaville Lions Park provided by the Noosa Lions Club after the event or at one of the BBQs being hosted at some of the other sites.
So put on a hat, grab your gloves and bring a water bottle, and Step Up to Clean Up at one of the registration sites near you to be a part of Clean Up Australia Day in Noosa from 8am on Sunday March 1st.
