Mackay Bushwalkers Tackle Beach Clean Up

Mackay Bushwalkers Club staged a Clean Up Australia event last Sunday afternoon.

Equipped with bags, gloves, an empty ute and dump vouchers, a group of eleven club members turned out to lend a hand.

The original plan was to walk across Shellgrit Creek and collect rubbish along the sheltered beach south towards the mouth of Baker’s Creek. However, runoff from recent rain had elevated the water level, prompting the group to put a Plan B into action. Members instead focused on the path from Illawong Beach along the foreshore.

A large amount of driftwood left behind by recent cyclone weather made it difficult to locate rubbish at times, but the group still managed to collect a considerable amount of microplastics with determination. Significant quantities of rubbish were also gathered from the beach, surrounding bushland, car parks and along Illawong Drive, where a surprising number of discarded items were found. Cigarette butts and dangerous glass were particularly abundant in front of the main beach area.

After an initial burst of rain, the weather proved favourable, with a welcome cloud cover throughout the afternoon.

The strong sense of fellowship and involvement in a community initiative made for an enjoyable and rewarding afternoon for those involved.

Contributed with thanks to Coral and Carole from Mackay Bushwalkers Club

Photos supplied