Tasman Bay beach clean clears around 10.46 tonnes of rubbish

Date:  21 November 2010

Tasman Bay beaches should glisten sparklingly-clean in this summer’s sunshine thanks to a big community effort on Saturday (20 November) to clear coastal rubbish.

Around 10.46 tonnes of debris was collected by about 800 people in the Tasman Bay Big Beach Clean-up, from 291 kilometres of coast between Abel Tasman National Park and Cable Bay and from the banks of five waterways.

Department of Conservation Community Relations Programme Manager Rudy Tetteroo expressed a big thank you to the volunteers on behalf of event organisers DOC, Tasman District Council, Nelson City Council and NELMAC Ltd.

“It’s been a tremendous achievement by everyone involved and fantastic to see such enthusiasm from so many in the community for looking after our beaches. Participants told us it felt good to be helping to clear litter from the coast and some beach-cleaning teams were shocked at how much rubbish they had picked up. A number were thanked by passers-by for doing it.

“Locals and the thousands of holidaymakers who will visit our region this summer can gain more pleasure from our beautiful beaches with less unsightly rubbish around.

“It also helps to make our coasts safer for wildlife for which our litter can be lethal.”

Rubbish removed included plastic, bottles, bits of glass, some tyres, mussel floats and an oil drum.

Rudy said it was aimed to make the beach clean-up an annual spring event but an ongoing effort was needed from everyone to keep our shores and sea litter-free.

“Anything taken to the beach or out on the sea should be taken away again and rubbish carefully-disposed of.”

DOC extends its thanks to sponsors who have supported the event including Nelson Pine Industries, Dynea NZ Limited, Cutting Edge Signs, Motueka New World and Nelson New World. Thanks also go to NELMAC Ltd for their help with traffic management.

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