Calling Canberra to a Eurobodalla clean up adventure this Sunday

Canberra loves the Eurobodalla; the beaches and waterways that run from Durras to Narooma are well known by families and couples from the ACT.

This Sunday, Canberrans are being asked to put that love to work and pitch in on Clean Up Australia Day at one of 26 clean up sites dotted around this shire of gold and blue.

And there is fun and adventure to have along the way.

Batemans Bay Dive Adventures will be searching the Clyde River for trash (and maybe treasure!) from Batemans Bay’s T-Wharf and the call has gone out to Canberra’s diving community.

“We only have three divers signed up at the moment, more would great and we need people who can help on the wharf, people who can take found items off divers and put them in the skip bin,” Eurobodalla Clean Up Australia Project Officer, Maree Cadman says.

“We haven’t had a clean up in the Clyde River since 2011, all sorts of stuff is going to come out of there.”

Canberra divers keen to help in the water can take advantage of free air fills and discounted gear hire.

The other Eurobodalla twist to Clean Up Australia Day is a free group paddle in Cullendulla Creek from 8 am.

“This is a free sightseeing tour with Region X where you’ll be collecting rubbish along the way,” Maree says.

Region X will also provide free kayak hires out of Mossy Point boat ramp between 9 am and Noon for those interested in collecting rubbish from the Tomaga River and banks.

“We will be part of the biggest community environment event in Australia and it would be great to see people from Canberra working side by side with locals,” Maree says.

“They [Canberrans] are a part of us because they are always down here, and apart from helping the local environment this is a great way to meet people and get involved.”

Tourists from Canberra are the largest source of visitors to the Eurobodalla, accounting for 29% of all visitors to the region. And it’s the local environment that draws people up and over Clyde Mountain with 64% of visitors engaging in outdoor, nature-based activities when they arrive.

“Just a little bit of time on Sunday morning will help us keep it unspoilt for all those holidays and weekends away,” Maree says.

Clean up sites include: Batemans Bay Water Gardens, Corrigans Beach, Kianga Lions Park, Lilli Pilli and Malua Bay, Long Beach, Maloneys Beach, Mogo, Mogo Dog Trap Road, Moruya’s Riverside Park, North Head Wall, Potato Point Beaches and surrounds, South Durras, Surf Beach, Surfside, Tomakin, Turnbulls Lane Moruya, Vulcan Street Moruya and Yarragee Reserve.

“Now all we need is feet on the ground on the day,” Maree says.

There is a hole in Sunday’s plan around Broulee and Mossy Point.

“We don’t have any registered sites in those communities yet. I know people there are picking up rubbish every day, but it would be great to see people come out for the clean up,” Maree says.

Anyone interested in cleaning up the Broulee and Mossy Point areas can grab some bags and gloves from the Mossy Point Boat Ramp or call Maree to register a site.

For more information, including times and contact details, phone Maree on 4474 1343, visit the Clean Up Australia Day website or check out Eurobodalla Shire Council’s website.

Volunteers are also in the running to win more than $2000 worth of prizes that have been donated by local businesses.