Clean4Shore is 'back on the water'
Marine clean-up program Clean4Shore is "back on the water" after lack of State and Federal funding threatened its closure after 13 years of operation.
Program co-ordinator Mr Graham Johnston said Central Coast Council has come to the rescue.
He said the council's financial support would allow "our schools and community groups to continue the litter clean up program".
"It is most unfortunate that the State and Federal Governments were prepared to allow our program to close after 13 years of operation."
Mr Johnston said Hornsby Shire Council had also contributed to the program, which would allow schools from within their Local Government Area to commence Hawkesbury River clean-ups.
He said the program was back in operation on Friday, August 11.
"Scuba Gym volunteers divers and support staff were out today with the task of removing plastic from beneath the surface between the Anderson's boat shed jetty and the Ettalong Public Jetty.
"With four divers in the water, their small bags quickly filled with beer bottles and soft plastics that were transferred into Clean4shores larger "chaff" bags.
"Over 250 beer bottles were collected, mostly laying in small underwater 'chanels" with soft plastic collected from the many mooring lines attached to larger vessels.
"Larger items removed included three car tyres, outboard motor, crab nets, poly pipe, plastic furniture and plant of tangled fishing line.
"Wagstaffe jetty was checked with surprising results as the divers found no litter or debris present."
The result of the day was "a small but heavy load returned to Lions Park, with 400 kilos off-loaded at Woy Woy Tip".
SOURCE:
Social media, 11 Aug 2023
Graham Johnston, Clean4shore