Give the Murray a break and remove rubbish polluting the river

Media Release - 12 May 2009

Clean Up Australia Chairman Ian Kiernan AO today urged residents and visitors to ‘give the Murray a break’ and take action to remove rubbish polluting the waterway and the iconic river’s banks.

The first ever Clean Up the Murray will take place on Sunday 31 May along the river at Cobram, Echuca and Cohuna. Hundreds more volunteers are needed to tackle problem areas, which include popular visitor sites.

“Drought isn’t the only environmental challenge facing the Murray. As thousands of tourists continue to flock to the banks of the Murray each year, rubbish is becoming an increasing problem. Let’s give the Murray a break,” Mr Kiernan said.

Run by Clean Up Australia in partnership with Parks Victoria, Clean Up the Murray aims to rid the river and its environs of the tonnes of items such as plastic bottles, bags and discarded fishing line rubbishing the area and harming wildlife.

Mr Kiernan said the response of the local community so far was encouraging but many more volunteers are needed to register for the 31st to ensure there is a lasting benefit.

“The banks of the Murray support important habitat for wildlife, but unfortunately it’s also where much of the rubbish left behind ends up. It’s awful to see our unique native animals and birds injured by things like plastic bags, which should have never made their way into the river in the first place.

“The Murray is also a major water source for communities along the river so it’s in everyone’s best interest to keep it as clean as possible.”
Parks Victoria’s Regional Manager, Chris McCormack, said each year hundreds of thousands of campers, day visitors and local residents are attracted to the Murray River to participate in a huge range of recreational activities.

“Unfortunately one of the products generated as a result is rubbish and waste material and, as numbers increase, so too does the growing problem of disposing of this rubbish,” he said.

“People do care about this beautiful landscape and it’s in everyone’s interest to make the effort to dispose of their rubbish thoughtfully by taking it home where it can be recycled or appropriately delivering it to a local transfer station or refuse area,” he said.

There will be official Clean Up sites in Echuca, Cohuna and Cobram, but volunteers are encouraged to register for sites all along the river.

“To get involved simply go onto the website www.cleanup.org.au, register as a volunteer and turn up on Sunday 31 May with gloves, a hat, sturdy shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen ready to help make a difference.”

For further information contact Alana Mew, 0423 377 567