While the essential theme of Seaweek continues with the call for each and every one of us to take responsibility for the seas around us - "It Starts With Me" - in 2009 we will be thinking particularly about what lies under the surface.One of the challenges of marine conservation comes from the fact that we only really see what lies around and over the sea, rather than the immense scope of life and geography which lies beneath it.
In New Zealand this is directly relevant to all of us - the ocean is our front lawn and our back yard and we all influence it for better or for worse. - from seaweek.org website
The Great Dunedin Coastal Cleanup
Kaikorai Estuary Cleanup 1st March 2009
Waldronville residents Nic and Jay are organising a community cleanup of the Kaikorai Estuary in conjunction with the Dunedin City Councils 'Great Dunedin Coastal Cleanup" during Seaweek 1st-8th march 2009
Meet at: Sunday 1st March 10am at the carpark by the Kaikorai Estuary bridge.
Rubbish collected will be taken to Hancock Park, St Kilda (corner Victoria Rd and John Wilson Dr) from 12.30 to 2.30pm for rubbish weighing, recycling and disposal.
Please bring: Water bottle, sturdy shoes preferably gumboots, sun hat, sun-block, raincoat, warm clothes. Rubbish bags and gloves will be supplied. We hope you can join us.
Prizes: At the weigh in, there will be prizes, Seaweek displays and whale rescue demonstrations! Free sausage sizzle! Free face painting! Hancock Park Festivities start at 12.30pm, prize-giving from 3 to 3.30pm. Hosted by the Dunedin City Councils' great Dunedin Coastal Cleanup.
Kaikorai Estuary and wetlands circled in Yellow. below: An albatross choked to death by a plastic bag on Blackhead Beach, New years Eve 2008
Above top & left: Rubbish lining the Kaikorai Estuary, right: the Green Island landfill dump site at the head of the Kaikorai Estuary.
The Estuary has dealt with the dual impacts of long term waste disposal, pollution and land reclamation. The often polluted Kaikorai stream outflows into the Kaikorai Estuary, which is abundant with bird life such as Swans, Pukekos, Herons, Ducks, Finches and Gulls.
UPDATE 4th March 2009
Dirty Dunedin Lived up to its name
260 leaflets dropped into local letter boxes
- 2 articles in local and main Dunedin newspapers
- 3 locals turn up
- 6 foreign students from uni
- 1 townie surfer = 10 souls
- 1 overflowing trailer of rubbish -
Thanks to those who showed that caring about the environment is more than just cliche enviro talk!
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3 comments:
Hey Nic! Thanks for the comment, yeh I think we should do something up here too! we will at least do a run along the coast road picking up rubbish of beaches etc. Special piece of coast worth looking after!
James, Kakanui
Great initiative!
Keen as to get amongst it!! Will hopefully make it down after Go for Gold :) Fantastic initiative.. aotearoa is too stunning to be ruined along with the ones who were here before us.
Daisy
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