Media Release- 4 October, 2006

Mountains visitors urged to take action to protect Victoria’s Alps

Victoria's Alps are one of the most fragile environments in Australia so visitors are being urged to help restore and protect vulnerable areas during the first ever Clean Up the Alps Weekend on 11 and 12 November.

Freestyle Skiing champion and 2006 Torino Olympian, Michael Robertson will be attending the event and is encouraging all Victorian's to join in, ‘The Victorian Alps are an area of outstanding beauty and a great place for skiers. I rely on this area during the winter months for training and so the Clean Up the Alps Weekend is a great way for me to give something back and help to preserve the area."

Clean Up Australia Chairman Ian Kiernan AO said the growing number of skiers, bushwalkers and park users who visit the Alps every year, estimated at half a million, means the amount of rubbish left behind is increasing and can easily run into waterways, damaging water quality.

To combat the problem, Clean Up Australia, in partnership with Parks Victoria, Conservation Volunteers Australia and Alpine resorts have launched a website - www.cleanup.com.au/alps inviting locals and tourists to register for the Clean Up the Alps weekend at Falls Creek and Mt Buffalo.

Mr Kiernan, who will be attending a volunteers BBQ at Falls Creek on Sunday 12th November, said seven sites at the mountain resorts had been chosen as places where rubbish is likely to accumulate or where introduced weeds and pests threaten water quality.

"The pressures on the natural environment have significantly increased as visitor numbers rise, particularly in the most sensitive alpine areas. Discarded rubbish and other waste are the main problems, but introduced weeds and pests also affect the habitat of native species."

Parks Victoria Chief Executive, Mark Stone, urged everyone who has visited the Alps to return on the second week of November to participate in the event.

"Parks Victoria recognises the need to form partnerships to protect and improve the environmental and cultural values of the Alpine National Park. To this end we have been working with Clean up Australia for the last several years on various programs. "

"This weekend is a great example of a cooperative approach. It will give a real focus to the environmental challenges in the Alps and I encourage all Victorians to give a small amount of time to the Clean up the Alps Weekend, and thereby make a valuable contribution to its future," he said.

Clean Up the Alps weekend will take place at two sites at Mount Buffalo on Saturday, 11 November, and five at Falls Creek on Sunday, 12 November. A volunteer "thank you BBQ" will also be held with Mr Kiernan attending to acknowledge the efforts of volunteers.

Volunteers can register their interest simply by visiting www.cleanup.com.au/alps

Media Enquiries: Paul Sheridan 0410 516 656 Further information: Sally Whitelaw 02 9692 1221