Lend a hand for Clean Up Australia Day on the Fraser Coast

COVID has created unique challenges to organising Clean Up Australia Day events, as well as creating a mountain of litter that needs to be cleaned up.

“There has been a surge in the use of disposable items, such as takeaway coffee cups, food packaging, masks and sanitising wipes,” Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said.

“Much of this has ended up as litter in our parks, streets, bushland, waterways and beaches.”

Cutting the amount of rubbish, especially plastic waste, getting into the environment is a life-long ambition of Iluka Clifton.

In January, Iluka was presented with the Fraser Coast Australia Day Young Citizen of the Year Award for her efforts to galvanize community support in cutting the use of plastic straws.

As part of her successful campaign, Council agreed to stop the use of plastic straws and other single-use plastics at its events and in its buildings.

Iluka is a regular at Clean Up Australia Days, and regularly cleans up around her neighbourhood.

“There’s always a lot of takeaway wrappers to pick up,” she said.

“Plastic is a real problem, so we have to work hard to stop it getting into the environment, especially the marine environment where it is a danger to animals such as turtles and whales which live and visit.”

“The more we can keep out of the environment the better.”

Council will host two Clean Up Australia Day events with a free sausage sizzle for participants at Pier Park, Urangan and Prickett Park next to Lamington Bridge in Maryborough from 7am – 10am on Sunday 7 March.

Please visit www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au to join an event or create your own event. 

"We encourage the community to organise their own events around the region and register their events to receive free gloves and bags."

"Council will pick up any rubbish collected at all registered clean-up sites. To create an event go to www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au"

You can also join an existing event by searching for a Clean Up event near you on the Clean Up Australia Day website. 

As usual Council will supply hand sanitiser, gardening gloves and bags for volunteers.

Please use sun protection, wear sturdy shoes, bring a hat and water bottle.