Keep our beaches and waterways healthy on Clean Up Australia Day

The Northern Beaches has some amazing community groups that work hard to keep our beautiful environment clean and healthy.

With Clean Up Australia Day this Sunday 1 March, why not join one of the local groups who are contributing to the national effort?

One group planning to do great things this Clean Up Australia Day is the Collaroy-based Kayaking group Freedom Outdoors.

After Narrabeen Lagoon was deluged in recent weeks during widespread storms, tonnes of rubbish was washed down the adjacent hills to settle all around the shoreline. The rubbish includes plastic bottles, coffee cups, plastic bags, straws and more.

The Freedom Outdoors kayaking group has arranged a Clean Up Narrabeen Lagoon event, focusing on the shoreline between the picnic areas, which are difficult for land-based crews to access.

Join the group at 9.00am this Sunday for a 2-hour session as they work their way around the waterway. Everything will be provided, including gloves, rakes, life jackets and quality kayaks.

You need to register in advance by emailing [email protected]. It’s a unique way to see and contribute to the beauty of Narrabeen Lagoon.

The first 10 to sign up receive their kayak for free. After that, it’s $25 kayak hire per person.

Another group that supports the marine environment and local wildlife is AUSMAP (the Australian Microplastic Assessment Project), a citizen science project that educates people about microplastics that pollute Australia’s shorelines.

Come and join the AUSMAP team at Manly Cove from 9.00am to 11.30am to take part in Operation Straw, a clean-up initiative to tackle the build-up of plastic found in Manly Cove and beyond, particularly plastic straws.

You’ll be taking part in a group STRAWkle (that’s a snorkel for straws and other rubbish in the ocean) to clean up this stunning environment. Australians use 2.9 billion straws a year, and while each straw might be used for just a few minutes, it will last on the planet longer than you do. A huge number eventually make their way into our local environment.

You’ll need to bring your wetsuit and snorkelling equipment, including gloves, or arrange to hire equipment from the Dive Centre Manly.

Please meet on the grass outside of the Manly Art Gallery and Museum at West Esplanade, Manly, approximately 5-10 minutes before the event start time.

There are plenty of other events in your locality. The Clean up Clontarf Beach & Reserve event is a family-friendly event from 7.00am – 10.00am to restore lovely Clontarf to its pristine state. Check out what to bring on the day.

Other events will be held at Dee Why Beach Clean Up, Newport Beach, or you can support one of 88 registered Northern Beaches clean up sites near you.

There’s no better time than Clean Up Australia Day to come together as a community, don a pair of gloves and clean up litter from our beautiful beaches, waterways and parks. Find out more on the Clean Up Australia Day website.