Enjoying Cronulla’s ocean and beaches is an important part of why people live in the Sutherland Shire, and the inaugural Clean Up Up Cronulla day showed that the community will do their part to ensure the beaches and ocean are clean for everyone to enjoy.
For the event, Sharks Have Heart and Surfrider Cronulla branch worked on the day with Sutherland Council's waste management dept and the Cronulla Chamber of Commerce.
One diehard Sharks fan was so keen he had filled his bag with rubbish from North Cronulla Beach before the event had even started.
Approximately 100 members of the community registered on the morning and walked the Cronulla beachfront collecting people's discarded waste with hundreds of cigarette butts and left behind rubbish picked up.
Cronulla MP Mark Speakman and his wife Caroline turned up with their own gloves and prepared to do their bit with Mayor Carmelo Pesce and Sutherland Councillors Carol Provan and Michael Forshaw and he echoed most peoples thoughts saying it should not come to this.
“Cleaning up rubbish is great but it really should be put in the bin in the first place “Mark said.
“Clean Oceans are a precious resource and it's a good effort by Council,Surfrider and the Sharks to raise public awareness of the need to keep rubbish of the beach and out of the ocean”
Sharks player Scott Sorenson who signed autographs and threw the footy around in the park with participating kids said we only have one ocean and its in everyone's interest to look after it.
“We are lucky we have a beautiful ocean right here on our doorstep and we should enjoy and protect it”
Tony Wales the Georges River Council, Riverkeeper sifted sand from North Cronulla Beach showing how much micro plastic is present without being readily visible and Sutherland Councils waste management dept talked to people about their household waste plans with worm farms,compost bins and bin management.
The Surfrider Foundation’s Joe Glendenning, said they are dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the ocean, waves, and beaches, and “Clean Up, Up Cronulla” was a successful event that could only help raise awareness about ocean health and plastic pollution.
“This day wasn't about collecting mountains of rubbish but more importantly a fun event so kids and the community could think about being responsible and doing something proactive”
