Published: 17 February 2022

Eurobodalla Mayor Mathew Hatcher has put out the call to the community to get involved in the nation’s biggest environmental event, Clean Up Australia Day, on Sunday 6 March.

So far 21 Eurobodalla sites are registered between Narooma and South Durras including the Batemans Bay Water Gardens, Corrrigans Beach, Batehaven, Moruya’s Riverside Park, Mogo creek and Potato Point.

Mayor Hatcher will don gloves on the day to help with the clean-up at Mogo. With the village recently battered by floods, substantial rubbish remains in Mogo’s Cabbage Tree Creek, including discarded fridges, boats, steel boilers, pallets and more.

Mayor Hatcher said volunteers were needed on the day across the shire – including people who could help with heavy lifting.

“Volunteering for Clean Up Australia Day is an opportunity to roll up your sleeves, get out there and take action,” he said.

“It only takes a few hours of your time and is a great way to connect with your community and support our natural environment.”

Eurobodalla’s Clean Up project officer Maree Cadman said more than 28 cubic metres of waste was removed from the local environment last year. She said she’s looking forward to seeing more get involved this year, pointing out that habits had changed during Covid – most of which were not kind on the environment.

“Over the past 12 months we’ve experienced above-average rainfall and a surge in the use of single-use items. Unprecedented numbers of takeaway coffee cups, face masks and food packaging litter our footpaths, parks and beaches,” she said.

“More rubbish is entering our environment by the day, so we need everyone to step up.”

To get involved and register a site – or sign up to a site near you – head to the Clean Up Australia Day website. Those unable to participate on Sunday 6 March also have the option of cleaning up on an alternative day.

Council assists by promoting sites and facilitating the collection and disposal of waste. For help registering a site, joining a site, or for more information, contact Council’s Clean Up project officer Maree Cadman on 4474 1343.

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