Cleaning up Cardinia

Friends of Cardinia Creek Sanctuary volunteers Neil McDonald and Heather Holtham at a previous event.

By Bonny Burrows

Clean-up crews are ready to rid to local creeks and roadsides of unsightly litter.
Sunday 4 March is Clean Up Australia Day and once again taking part is local group Friends of Cardinia Creek Sanctuary.
Armed with gloves and rubbish bags, the volunteers, including Judy Smith, will this year take part in the national initiative while celebrating its milestone 20th birthday.
The group will mark the occasion with cake following a clean-up of Cardinia Creek, Emerald Road, the highway and adjacent wetlands, which will be assisted by Landcare.
Trolleys, mattresses, wood, batteries and “lots of cigarette butts” are just some of the items cleared from the area in previous efforts.
It’s a tedious task, but one Ms Smith says is made easier by the company.
“It’s a good bunch of people, and it’s the same ones that come year after year,” Ms Smith said.
“We get up to 35 people some years, and there’s always more females taking part than men.”
The clean up will run from 9am to 11am, with volunteers meeting at the south end of the Beaconsfield Tennis Courts on Emerald Road.
Everyone is welcome, BYO sunscreen and hat.
Gloves are provided and participants are advised to wear enclosed shoes.