Friday 3 March 2006

Divers will plunge deep into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to collect litter this weekend as part of Clean Up Australia Day.

The North Queensland Underwater Explorers Club will target the area around the Picnic Bay jetty on Magnetic Island this Sunday (5 March 2006).

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Director of Water Quality and Coastal Development Hugh Yorkston urged the community to help keep waterways clean.

“There is a direct link between land-based activities and the declining quality of water entering the Marine Park so we encourage the community to take this issue on board,” he said.

Mr Yorkston said discarded litter could have a range of environmental impacts on the quality of water in the Marine Park, marine wildlife and their environment.

“Many daily activities may affect the quality of water entering the Marine Park by increasing the levels of nutrients, sediments and other pollutants discharged via local waterways into the Marine Park,” he said.

“Rubbish washed from streets and pathways into stormwater drains eventually ends up in adjacent rivers, streams or even directly into the ocean.

“Everyone can help by keeping drains and gutters free of chemicals and rubbish, and putting all litter in the bin or recycling.”

DJ Mackenzie from the Creek to Coral programme, an initiative of the Townsville and Thuringowa City Council, said maintaining clean and healthy waterways was everyone’s responsibility.

“It is our responsibility to look after our waterways through sustainable use and management of coastal marine and freshwater environments,” he said.

"Clean Up Australia Day, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s broader education and community involvement programmes, are key to generating
awareness in the community about the importance of waterways to the long-term health of the reef."

Other local cleanups taking place in Townsville target waterways at Mundy Creek (Rowes Bay) and Louisa Creek (Garbutt).

A survey of islands and coral cays adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park found the most common forms of litter are plastics, rubber, glass and polystyrene.

Queensland’s Environmental Protection Agency also estimates some 100,000 marine animals - including turtles, whales and dugong - are killed as a result of plastic litter every year.