The task in place was to monitor, remove and report issues relating to unwanted litter from the western foreshore, of Rileys Island, within the Brisbane Waters area in NSW on January 12th, 2012. With the help of the Kincumber Youth Centre and in threatening weather conditions the groups landed on the northern tip of Rileys Island, and immediately began filling bags of litter, mostly plastic from the immediate foreshore.
A small team ventured into the flat saltmarsh area behind the foreshore, also retrieving large amounts of small item litter. As the groups moved south, under the mangroves, on the foreshore, vast amounts of disused oyster products were prominent. The young people involved tediously removed the waste, from the foreshore into the IRB's, transferring into Simon's barge.
The work in the saltmarsh was cancelled as the volume of oyster products increased, with plenty of motivation needed to keep the young people involve. The weather then turned into torrential rain, much to the delight of all the young people. Load after load was dragged into the barge, with only two hundred metres, completed in an hour and a half. As the barge filled, and the weather became worse, a halts to the clean-up was called.
Andy Myers, from Oceanwatch, inspected the next 100 metres of foreshore, which revealed even more rubbish and oyster products. This will be cleaned at later date, and with notice to the stakeholder for assistance. The saltmarsh flats, behind the mangroves will also be cleaned more thoroughly. A further 200metres of the western foreshore is still to be completed, to link up with the work compled on the 12th January. The north and northwest foreshores are yet to be completed.
This area (Rileys Island), has revealed the largest amount of litter, and deposited rubbish, that the foreshore program has uncovered, with visible damage, to the native mangroves, saltmarsh, plant and animal life that inhabit this reserve. Those involved, were amazed at the vast extent of litter that has accumulated in the region.
A total of 620kg, plus twelve car and truck tyres, was removed, by the young people and coordinators. All rubbish was transported, in Simons barge, to the Woy Woy boat ramp, then loaded into a Parks and Wildlife tip truck, for depositing at Woy Woy tip.
Area: Brisbane Waters (Rileys Island, south west bank)
Date: 12th January 2012
Time: 12.30m to 3.30pm
Coordinator: Graham Johnston; Macmasters Beach Surf Club
Assisting Adults : Peter & Sam (Youth Workers Kincumber & Kariong Youth Centre's)
Kincumber Youth Centre Participants; Seven young people
Kariong Youth Centre: Eight young people
Macmasters Beach Surf Club Participants: Nathan and Mathew Grennan
Oceanwatch: Andy Myers
Brisbane Waters Oyster Growers: Simon
Brisbane Waters National Parks; Vicki Elliott plus five staff.
Mode of Travel
2 x IRB (inflatable rescue boat), oyster barge (simons) Nat Parks tip truck