Tasman Bay Big Beach Clean-up just a month away

Date:  21 October 2010

A call for community groups to join in a spring clean of Tasman Bay beaches next month has had a fantastic response with around 1000 people expected to turn out for the coastal tidy-up.

It is now just a month to go till the Big Beach Clean-up on Saturday 20 November. Fifty groups have signed up to clear rubbish from 50 sections of coast from Abel Tasman National Park to Cable Bay.

When the beaches had all been taken but groups still wanted to take part, the community cleaning effort was extended to the region’s rivers and streams. Five groups are to clean the banks of waterways including Nelson’s Maitai River, Brook Stream, Poorman’s Creek and Saltwater Creek, and Reservoir Creek in Richmond.

This first Tasman Bay Big Beach Clean-up, covering around an astounding 291 kilometres of coast, has been jointly organised by the Department of Conservation, Tasman District Council, Nelson City Council and NELMAC Ltd.

Adventure race champion Nathan Fa’avae, who is supporting the Big Beach Clean-up, said the enthusiastic response to the call to help spring clean beaches in time for summer was fantastic.

“Groups were quick to register for the clean-up and all 50 coastal sections had been taken on within about six weeks.

“It’s great to see so many Tasman and Nelson locals caring for our beaches and wanting to make them litter-free and more attractive for people and wildlife.”

Rudy Tetteroo of DOC said the beach-cleaning groups ranged in size from six to around 40.

“Some are family groups with as many as 30 of them making a day of it at the beach. There are girl guides, banks, forestry companies, church groups, sports clubs, water transport operators, local newspaper staff and other clubs, businesses and organisations taking part.

“Others have offered services such as boat transport for ferrying people, or vehicles to cart rubbish collected from beaches to rubbish collection points at Tahunanui Beach in Nelson, and transfer stations at Beach Road in Richmond and Robinson Road in Mariri, which will take beach rubbish between midday and 4pm.

“A sausage sizzle will be on offer to beach clean volunteers at the rubbish collection points as a thank you for their efforts.”

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