Loads of rubbish have been pulled out of Sunshine Coast rivers and creeks after extreme weather hit the region.
About 730kg of waste was removed from local waterways in three days, after flooding in the Petrie Creek and Mooloolah River catchments swept debris into the river systems.
Sunshine Coast Local Recovery Group chair and deputy mayor Maria Suarez detailed what sorts of items had been retrieved by Sunshine Coast Council.
“The team has been focusing on areas close to the river mouth, with the primary focus on removing plastics, bottles, chip packets and other non-natural trash,” she said.
“The team will continue our clean-up efforts in Nambour, including Petrie Creek, on March 18.
“We appreciate our community’s concern and support.
“Our council teams are committed to navigating carefully and ensuring that only non-natural waste is removed from the environment unless it presents as a risk to assets or navigation.
“These efforts are part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining the health and cleanliness of our waterways.”
Council is also planning, with community groups, to clean up the region’s beaches. Locals can also able to help via cleanup.org.au/community.
Meanwhile, the post-cyclone clean-up has begun on Noosa’s beaches, with residents invited to lend a hand.
Clean-up bags are available at various access points on the eastern beaches for anyone who’d like to take part.
Debris from catchments further south often washes up on Noosa’s beaches after severe weather. The last big clean-up followed the 2022 floods when waste such as broken pontoons from the Brisbane River washed ashore at Noosa.
For clean-up bag collection points and more information click here.
