Great Murray Lakes Clean Up was a huge success…
Sunday April 6th, 2008
More than 300 Community Volunteers collected over 100 tonnes of dangerous steel, glass, plastic and wood waste and rubbish from the shores of the Great Murray Lakes at the weekend.
But the environment has been cleaned up and protected in more ways than only the collection of nasty materials – with the discovery of severely injured tortoises due to the drought and attack by pests. The volunteers also played a major role in rescuing about 80 tortoises that have been severely affected by life threatening infestation by coral worms that are plaguing the Murray Lakes around Goolwa, Hindmarsh Island and Mundoo Channel.
The rescued tortoises were taken into protection by the Native Animal Network at Goolwa. A representative of the group reported that 2 tortoises had to be euthanased by a local veterinarian because of their injuries from rats and birds because they could not walk away from danger. The cost of this emergency work and keeping the collected and cleaned tortoises, now numbering around 150, is now threatening the viability of the small organisation that is run by pensioner volunteers. They are being assisted by the owners of Goolwa Tanks which has provided a tank at its shop to temporarily house the reviving animals.
Great Murray Lakes Clean Up Article (PDF 860KB)
Hard rubbish discovered in all areas
The army of volunteers cleaned up over 33km of river and lake front across the townships of Goolwa, Clayton Bay, Milang, Mundoo Channel and Meningie. In the Alexandrina Council alone, the collection bins received over 8 tonnes of inert waste land fill. This included 5 tonnes of steel and timber – all that will be recycled. Some of the items included old steel security safes, one old 303 rifle that was handed to Goolwa Police, engine blocks, railway carriage wheels and running gear and large industrial cogs and wheels. In excess of 1000 tyres including car, truck tractor and skid steer tyres were discovered and will be recycled.
Click here to read more about the volunteers.
Background on the Clean Up
CEO of Kesab, John Phillips, said: “The whole effort demonstrated how the community can ‘repair’ the fragile river and lakes and highlights the impact of decades of abuse and pollution over and above mother nature’s impact.”
“The Navy Reserve divers who brought of dangerous items from beneath deeper waters near the wharf attracted great community interest as far as visitors to Goolwa on the Sunday. We were also pleased with the attendance of the Minister for the River Murray, Karlene Maywald, regional Members of Parliament Michael Pengilly and Adrian Pederick and the Mayors of both Alexandrina and Cooroong Councils and many of the elected members of councils.
“We have witnessed a brilliant community spirit combining through business, government, council and service clubs and local volunteers, working together spread out over 4 days,” Mr Phillips said.
Taking positive advantage of the drought and resulting low water levels in SA’s River Murray Lakes, a KESAB managed community clean up was held last weekend on the shores of our Great Murray Lakes and downstream riverbanks.
A joint task group of local business, Councils, the SA Government and community members within the Murray Lakes areas resolved to turn the negativity of the lower water level, into a positive by holding the successful ‘Great Murray Lakes Clean Up’.
Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald MP was at Goolwa to assist volunteers in their work. She said the response by volunteers in the region was an example of the great community spirit that is need to support the river at this critical time.
“If there is a silver lining to the problem of drought, then this opportunity was it,” said KESAB Project Manager, Dick Olesinski.
“This was a once in a lifetime chance to clean up the lake and river shores by removing decades of rubbish and pollutants.
“The ‘Great Murray Lakes Clean Up’ has delivered a cleaner environment and increased user safety by the removal of hidden dangers such as old steel and concrete anchor moorings, hidden steel or wooden stakes and fence posts and old tyres – and even a rifle - that damage the environment and cause hazards to water sports and navigation.”
The notion of a clean up originally started with local Goolwa Marina operators. The concept spread rapidly with offers of help from the Alexandrina Council, the Premier of SA, KESAB, Coorong District Council and local businesses and community groups, who are supporting the event.
Teams of volunteers supported by local marine industry and councils covered locally identified ‘hot spot’ pollution and rubbish sites around Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert and into the lower reaches of the River Murray around Hindmarsh Island and Mundoo Channel. Town areas included Goolwa, Clayton Bay, Milang and Meningie. More than 300 Volunteers registered to assist.
