Big clean up of Tasman Bay beaches this Saturday

November 15th, 2011
[DOC press release]

Hundreds of Nelson-Tasman locals will be out collecting rubbish off beaches this Saturday 19th November in a big community coastal clean-up, including beach zones bordering Motueka.

Groups will clear litter from 51 coastal sections covering 295 kilometres of shoreline from Abel Tasman National Park to Cable Bay, north of Nelson.

This is the second year of the Tasman Bay Big Beach Clean-up, organised by the Department of Conservation, Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council and NELMAC Ltd. On November 20th last year more than 950 beach-cleaning volunteers collected a total 10.4 tonnes of rubbish. (Read our report here.)

In the event of very bad weather this Saturday, the beach clean-up will be postponed till the following day, Sunday 20 November. Organisers will contact team leaders directly if the day is to change.

DOC Motueka Area Community Relations Programme Manager Rudy Tetteroo said people of all ages would be taking part. "Groups participating include sports and social clubs, businesses, families and environmental groups.

"Out of the 51 teams, 35 participated last year. They felt good about helping to remove beach rubbish and had an enjoyable time doing it so wanted to be part of it again. It's great to see so many people showing how much they value our beautiful beaches by getting involved in giving them a spring clean in time for summer.

"Cleaning our beaches makes them more enjoyable for people and safer for coastal wildlife. Rope, packing strap, fishing line and netting can tangle seabirds and seals, impeding their movements and feeding, sometimes drowning or strangling them. Plastic bags and wrapping can be ingested by birds and whales, mistaking them for food, and can cause them slow and painful deaths."

Beach debris collected in the Motueka zones of the beach clean-up will be delivered to rubbish collection points at the Motueka DOC Office, corner of King Edward and High Streets between 10am and 3pm. People wanting to help can assemble at the i-Site building in Wallace Street at 9am on Saturday morning.

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