Central Coast Council is calling on the community to roll up their sleeves and help protect the region’s diverse natural environment by getting involved in the 30th annual Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday 3 March.

Volunteers are needed to become site supervisors and assist with sites across the Coast, from public bushland and parks to foreshore and coastal areas.

Council Mayor Jane Smith said this national event is the lasting legacy of the late Ian Kieran and is a great opportunity to join with family, friends, neighbours and colleagues to help Keep the Coast Clean.

“Clean Up Australia Day started as a simple idea and turned into an annual reminder to think about how we can all work together to reduce litter,” Mayor Jane Smith said.

“We are lucky to live in such a beautiful place, and this is a chance for the community to come together and help keep it that way.

“I would encourage everyone to get involved to help protect our local waterways, valleys and habitats of native animals and plants from plastics and pollution.”

Over the last 29 years, volunteers have donated more than 33 million hours, at over 178,000 locations across the country, together removing the equivalent of 350 thousand ute-loads of rubbish.

Council Mayor Jane Smith added that reducing and preventing litter as well as strengthening the community’s positive environmental behaviours were key objectives under the Green theme of the Community Strategic Plan.

“Even though most people do the right thing by placing rubbish in the bins provided, litter continues to be an issue that Council cannot tackle alone,” Mayor Smith said.

“Clean Up Australia Day acts as a reminder to think about how we can all work together to reduce waste in the home and our impact on the environment every day.

“Staff have implemented some incredible initiatives to help residents eliminate daily plastic waste by providing keep cups to local cafes and reusable produce bags to local fruit and vegetable suppliers to give to their customers for free.

“Thanks to a $36,000 NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Litter Grant, Council has distributed 2500 reusable litter bags, installed roadside signs reminding motorists how to report littering from vehicles and installed 19 dash cams in Ranger vehicles, increasing motorists chances of being caught littering.

“Council also provides free e-waste recycling, drop off points for the recycling of batteries, light globes and mobile phones as well as twice yearly Chemical CleanOut events, with the next one scheduled for 2 and 3 March at our Long Jetty Depot.”

To register a site or sign up as a volunteer this Clean Up Australia Day visit cleanupaustraliaday.org.au or call 1800 CUA DAY (282 329).

ENDS