01 May 2009

Volunteers appalled by 1700kg haul of rubbish in clean-up

Nearly 1700kg of rubbish was collected from the Mataura River's banks during a clean-up of the area earlier this month.

The clean-up, organised by Westpac's Gore branch as part of the sir Peter Blake Trust's Care for our Coast programme, saw volunteers collect  5 trailer  loads of rubbish in about three hours, including a television, a microwave, a conventional oven and a dog kennel.

Westpac's Gore branch manager Louise Duffy said many of the volunteers has mixed feelings about the days success because of the large amount of waste collected.

"It's a great result, but pretty appalling at the same time, "Miss Duffy said.

"It was difficult not to become disillusioned at the disregard that has been shown for our local environment, and the evidence that the river is being used as a deliberate dumping ground, rather than accidental littering."

Miss Duffy said many of the volunteers involved, which included Westpac staff, Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks and his wife Robyn, members of the public, and a team of Air Force cadets, felt greater education was needed to raise awareness of the negative impact of large-scale littering.

The cadets, who had volunteered for the clean-up after reading about it in The Ensign, were instrumental in collecting a large amount of rubbish, Miss Duffy said.

"These teens [the cadets] were meticulous in performing an Emu parade to cover a large section of the river.

"I't heartening to know they were happy to give up a Saturday  morning for a good cause, and were grateful to their commanders and parents for assisting in co-ordinating their efforts."

Miss Duffy said Westpac was considering how to make Mataura River clean-ups more regular events, which could be incorporated into the fishing season.

The Ensign - 22/04/09