Get your hands dirty for the Great Northern Clean Up

Date: Wednesday, 30th September 2009

Townsville City Council is calling on the community to get their hands dirty and rid the city of rubbish during the Great Northern Clean Up, Sunday, October 3-4.

Due to the wet season and associated flooding the city experienced earlier this year the council, along with other North Queensland Councils (Cairns, Tablelands, Hinchinbrook), postponed the usual Clean Up Australia Day activities until October.

Chair of the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee, Cr Vern Veitch said that the weather conditions at this time of the year were more favourable.

“The record wet made it virtually impossible for northern communities to participate in the traditional Clean Up Australia Day activities earlier this year,” Cr Veitch said.

“We’re making sure we don’t miss out though, by working with our northern neighbours to stage our own distinctly northern event. The Clean Up gives the community a chance to come together and get their hands dirty for a good cause, while preventing rubbish from polluting our city and waterways.”

Clean-up efforts will reduce the negative impact litter has on the environment by ensuring items such as plastic bottles, cigarette butts, plastic shopping bags, empty packaging and soft drink containers find their way into rubbish bins.

A major focus of this weekend’s clean-up will be Louisa Creek.

The council in partnership with Domain Central and Bunnings, will conduct clean-up activities along the creek on Sunday from 8am to 12 noon.

Residents will also have a choice of other locations for clean-up efforts including:

• Cungulla: Meet - Cungulla Park, at 8am;
• Douglas: Meet - Junction of Angus Smith Drive and Freshwater Drive, at 7am.
• South Townsville: Meet - End of Boundary St where it meets the sea, at 7am.
• South Townsville: Meet - 65 Morey St, 11am.

Other clean-ups will be carried out on Sunday, 11 October at:

• Magnetic Island: Meet - Supermarkets in Horseshoe Bay, Arcadia and Nelly Bay and the Picnic Bay Hotel,8am
• Oonoonba wetland fish habitat clean up: Meet - Oonoonba Council Park, 9am

People are reminded to wear enclosed shoes, hat, long sleeved clothing and sun screen and bring along a water bottle (water provided).

More information is available on this website or by phoning Integrated Sustainability Services on 4727 9520.