The SHNP beaches are increasingly plagued with rubbish. How do we keep them clean?
by nicoleshrimpton 10:50pm, 25 November 2009
Rena Comment 1
9:03am, 27 November 2009
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I couldn't agree more!
What an eye sore that beautiful beach has become, because of neglect by the council and the NPWS and of course the general public.
The run-off drain should be netted and bins provided.
nicoleshrimpton Comment 1.1
4:14pm, 17 December 2009
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Milk Beach and Rose Bay have both need registered as official Clean Up Australia Day websites. So why not register, come along - bag in hand and pitch in to help on March 7, 2010 on two really picturesque eastern suburbs positions. Afterwards you can have a picnic on your perfectly clean harbour beach.
http://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/Milk+Beach
http://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/clean+up+RBP
Volunteers divers and snorkellers are especially welcome.
matth Comment 1.1.1
4:30pm, 26 December 2009
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Cobblers Beach has minimal if no rubbish on it during the week or weekends. I have been there a number of time over 10 years and have yet to see the type of rubbish mentioned above. Users are obviously concerned about its upkeep and most try to take care with litter.
Kim Comment 2
3:58pm, 23 May 2010
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As part of a school project, my son and I cleaned up rubbisn on Milk Beach and were actually shocked at how much rubbish was there. Whether it was washed up from the harbour or left by picnickers was hard to determine. While we were there, a state Maritime boat arrived to pick up rubbish to the water line - after this point, it becomes NPWS' responsibility. It is clear there is much taxpayer money spent on salaries for government employees to pick up rubbish. If greater usage of the harbour and national parks is a priority for the government, a responsible rubbish collection program needs to be accompany the focus on additional usage. Eliminating waste bins in Nielsen Park and requesting visitors to take their rubbish with them (a separate discussion topic) would serve to only increase the rubbish within the park and harbour and do nothing to actually manage the problem.
Wes Comment 3
3:16pm, 6 July 2010
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Can't just blame the local council and National Parks - these beaches cop litter from all ends of the harbour given prevailing winds. People need to stop littering and purchasing over-packaged items.
Are National Parks funded enough to undertake regular beach cleaning. Maybe an answer for the NSW Government?
Isn't rubbish below the high tide mark NSW Maritime responsibility anyway? This would apply to a lot of the beach rubbish - maybe people should start hassling Maritime?
Milk Beach, Vaucluse, below Strickland House, part of the Heritage Walk, is an example of a stunningly beautiful harbour beach that seems to fall between the cracks of all bodies - NPWS, Maritime services and local council when it comes to rubbish management. All have said, 'it's the other's job.'On any day - and especially after Australia Day! - there are dozens of plastic bags full of rubbish tied to the trees by visitors seeking in vain a single rubbish bin. There is an argument that no rubbish bin means no rubbish, but tons of rubbish are cleared manually and daily by councils on beaches where the bins have been removed altogether. Milk Beach itself is covered in broken glass from centuries of bottles dumped below the water line - again no one's responsibility, as it's below the water line. The run-off drain and surrounds are strewn with a sad collection of flotsam and plastic in increasing quantities washed in from fun lovers off the harbour. Plastic straws, bottles and bottle tops, bags and foam cartons are in fact the new enemy. It is not exactly what you would call a tourist destination either.. SHNP beaches need a new, clear and responsible rubbish management strategy. They need bins and a team of collectors to empty them, possibly even by water if that was more convenient than by land. Why not?