Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today welcomed the announcement that Victoria will host the 2010 National Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday 7 March.
Ms Tierney said the announcement was made by Victorian Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings and Ian Kiernan AO, Chairman Clean Up Australia Day, at a launch on the Yarra River this week.
“2010 is the 20th anniversary of Clean Up Australia Day nationally and the Brumby Labor Government is delighted Victoria was chosen as the host of this milestone event,” Ms Tierney said.
“This opportunity has been awarded to Victoria as solid recognition that the Brumby Labor Government is taking action, through its programs and the considerable volunteering efforts of all Victorians, to combat littering.
“Clean Up Australia Day is a national event but its success is entirely dependent on our local community getting involved. Almost 1600 tonnes of rubbish was collected by volunteers from 1310 sites across the state during last year’s Clean Up Australia Day.
“Cigarette butts accounted for 13% of collected rubbish and a staggering 47% of all rubbish could have been recycled in normal kerbside collections. The majority of this rubbish was found in our beach and coastal regions.”
Ms Tierney said Victorians traditionally have the second highest rate of participation in the event after NSW and that the simplest way to increase the enjoyment and accessibility of our natural environment for all residents, is to register a Clean Up site.
“Clean Up Australia Day gives us all an opportunity to demonstrate our great community spirit and make a real and ongoing difference to our local environment,” Ms Tierney said.
“I urge all community members to register their own site, get their workplaces involved or take the message to their children’s schools for specially designed school Clean Up Australia Day activities.”
Parks Victoria is in the final year of its three-year partnership is working closely with Clean Up Australia and the urban community, schools and businesses to clean up Port Phillip and Corio Bays, and the Yarra and Maribyrnong Rivers with a range of activities planned in the lead up to the National Clean Up Australia Day on March 7.
Community members can get involved in Clean Up Australia activities on the following days:
• Tuesday March 2 – Business Clean Up Day;
• Friday March 5 – Schools Clean Up Day; and
• Sunday 7 March – National Clean Up Australia Day.
For further information visit www.parkweb.vic.gov.au or to register a Clean Up site visit www.cleanup.org.au