COMMUNITY CLEAN UP PROTECTS FRAGILE ALPS ENVIRONMENT
Media Release 12 November 2006
Community clean up protects fragile Alps environment
The first Clean Up the Alps initiative, a community campaign to protect the fragile Alps environment including some of Victoria's most important fresh water sources, drew more than 80 volunteers despite torrential rain and freezing temperatures to remove almost two tones of waste, including scrap metal and other pollution from areas around Falls Creek and Mt Buffalo over the weekend.
Volunteers joined Clean Up Australia's Chairman Ian Kiernan AO to remove dumped rubbish and focus on protecting fresh water sources. The campaign also raised community awareness of the environmental issues facing the region.
Mr Kiernan said seven sites at mountain resorts were chosen to give the public the first of many opportunities to actively get involved in conservation work in the area.
"The importance of protecting the Victorian Alps environment cannot be understated. The Alps contribute around 10 per cent of Victoria's stream flows and play a vital role in supplying fresh water for river systems and communities.
"Even a small amount of rubbish can affect water quality, and combined with other ecological threats such as introduced weeds and pests, the environmental integrity of the region can suffer."
Clean Up the Alps is part of the ongoing Victorian Government's ‘The Alps; A fresh start - a healthy future' strategy. Parks Victoria will work with Clean Up Australia and Conservation Volunteers Australia to collect rubbish, identify and remove weeds and restore alpine bogs and moss beds.
Mr Kiernan 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.
"The numbers of people visiting the Alps continues to rise but among them are some park users who senselessly discard rubbish, particularly in the snow where they think it can't be seen.
"But when the snow melts, the rubbish is carried by the rivers and creeks and impacts on water quality."
Broadcast quality vision is available via ATV (B3 via Sydney) - further details please call Chris Hocking on 0425 818 982.
Media Enquiries: Paul Sheridan 0410 516 656 Further information: Sally Whitelaw 02 9692 1221
