The Let’s Strain the Drains Project is a Victorian-first monitoring project of marine debris in Port Phillip Bay. This innovative project is funded by the Victorian State Government, delivered by Tangaroa Blue Foundation, Cleanwater Group and Sustainability Victoria with support from the Cities of Wyndham, Hobson’s Bay, Moreland, Kingston, Maribyrnong, and Greater Dandenong.
To address the increasing amount of litter washing up on Port Phillip Bay beaches, 120 stormwater drain traps have been installed by the Cleanwater Group in consultation with the six councils. The contents captured in the traps will be sorted and counted, providing data to the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) Database which is used to identify specific information on sources and distributions of litter originating from urban areas that would normally flow through the stormwater system into Port Phillip Bay. These audits will be completed by volunteers between now and May 2020.
The data collected along with an analysis report will be presented at a community forum to assist in the development of local source reduction plans that aim to mitigate the types of litter documented.
The first three auditing sessions took place in Richmond, Point Cook and St. Kilda in late October/early November.
To register your interest in participating in the audits, email info@tangaroablue.org.