WHILE mayoral hopeful Tony Wellington is an accomplished artist, council candidate Brian Stockwell knows his own art is rubbish.
Joining the Noosa Community Biosphere Association (NCBA) on Sunday 24 January at Noosa Main Beach, Mr Stockwell chose to show his support for better waste management with a still-life piece entitled “Holy Mackerel – The Art of Recycling”.
The 3D installation made from rubbish and recycled goods featured a scarecrow with op shop clothes sitting in a beach chair from the Tip Top Shop, catching a fish made of plastic bottles and pots in whitewater surf made from plastic bags.
“While the artwork was a bit of fun on the beach there’s a serious waste management message behind it, we need to be more innovative with the way we deal with our waste,” Mr Stockwell said.
“Stopping the enormous waste stream generated by single-use bags and bottles is a priority for Noosa as it moves towards its target of zero waste.”
Mr Stockwell praised the many stores around Noosa that have already given up the plastic bags and moved on to alternatives.
“Bunnings has recycled boxes, people are bringing their own bags, while the Boomerang Bag initiative lets you borrow one if you’ve left yours at home,” Mr Stockwell said.
Mr Stockwell is supporting the NCBA’s and the Boomerang Alliance’s campaign to urge the State Government to introduce a container deposit scheme that will reduce the huge load of discarded plastic bottles going in to our road verges, bushland and waterways.
A long-term site supervisor on Clean Up Australia Day, Mr Stockwell said he will be organising clean-up activities both around Noosaville with Sea Scouts and at Girraween with the Lions Football Club families.
“I believe Noosa has the potential to live up to its Biosphere status and become the first community of its kind to be both zero waste and carbon neutral.”
