With many of the Peninsula’s suburbs placed around the Brisbane Water, residents will welcome a new litter reduction initiative to be piloted on the waterway, which could go state-wide if it is successful.
OceanWatch Australia will receive $71,300 for the pilot as part of a $1M commitment from the NSW Government to address littering across the state.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said OceanWatch is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1989 to promote sustainable practices and minimise environmental impacts.
“OceanWatch has a productive relationship with Central Coast Council and local oyster farmers, which is why Brisbane Water is perfectly placed to host the pilot of this Statewide initiative,” Crouch said.
“OceanWatch will develop a ‘litter-free estuary strategy’ that includes gross pollutant traps, tangler bins and more signage, and if successful, this approach to reducing litter could be applied to other areas in NSW.
“Working closely with community groups, land managers and other estuary users, this pilot project will involve the targeting of litter at ‘hotspots’ around Brisbane Water.”
The funding, from Round 6 of the NSW Government’s Community Litter Grants, can be used for initiatives like community education and engagement, clean-up activities, new bins, promoting programs aimed at addressing littering, and strengthening the capacity of environmental groups working in the sector.
Source:
Media release, Nov 17
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch