Last Chance to join community litter audits

The Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership (HR2RP) and the Coral Sea Academy are calling on volunteers to get involved in the last two community litter audits to help identify and reduce debris from entering our waterways.

As part of the Whitsunday Gross Pollutant Trap project, 15 litter traps were installed in Airlie Beach, Proserpine and Cannonvale in early 2022, and since then more than 8000 pieces of litter has been sorted, and details entered into the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) Database. This valuable data is then used to assist with ongoing research and to guide source reduction programs.

HR2RP Community Engagement Officer Rebekah Smith said the litter audits were a great way to make a difference and help reduce litter in the Whitsundays.

โ€œThe information we gather from the community litter audits will help inform plans to reduce litter in the first place so itโ€™s a great way to get involved and keep our regionโ€™s waterways healthy.

โ€œMany hands really do make light work, so we encouraged anyone who has a couple of hours to spare to come down and give it a go.

โ€œWe provide you with all the required PPE, as well as training on how to sort through the debris and record the information. Itโ€™s a great learning opportunity for those interested in citizen science.โ€

The Coral Sea Academy is an EduTourism event platform offered through Coral Sea Marina. It offers a series of innovative events designed to educate and inspire guests, locals and visitors to the Whitsundays about the marine environment, the Great Barrier Reef, better boating and sustainability.

โ€œThrough getting involved with one of these community litter audits, anyone who visits or lives near the Great Barrier Reef has a chance to assist in protecting and preserving the local marine environmentโ€, explains Joscelyn Oโ€™Keefe, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Coral Sea Marina.

โ€œThe purpose of the Coral Sea Academy is to provide the opportunity for events such as these to engage with guests on themes that are relevant to the Whitsundays, such as protecting the natural assets that surround us. These community litter audits are certainly a great way in which any individual can help towards this goal.โ€

For more information on the Coral Sea Academy, visit coalseaacademy.com

This project has received funding support from the Queensland Governmentโ€™s Community Sustainability Action grant program. The project is being delivered in collaboration with Whitsunday Regional Council and with support from ReefClean, Tangaroa Blue Foundation, and Reef Trust.

Community Litter Audit Dates

Friday 3rd March 2023 REGISTER HERE.

Saturday 29th April 202REGISTER HERE.

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