Petition to ban balloons in surf life saving clubs receives over 12,000 signatures
A northern beaches petition to ban balloons in surf life saving clubs across the state has received more than 12,000 signatures.
Manly
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A petition to ban balloons across surf life saving clubs across NSW has racked up almost 15,000 signatures over community concerns regarding balloon fragments killing seabirds and wildlife.
Northern Beaches Clean Up Crew (NBCCC) started the petition on change.org in March 2022, claiming that balloons and balloon fragments kill almost one in five seabirds that ingest them by causing fatal obstructions.
Malin Frick, founder of NBCCC who conducts weekly beach clean-ups, said that balloons were an “ongoing problem” on the northern beaches, particularly for marine wildlife that swallowed balloon strings and burst balloons that resembled jellyfish.
“In our council, people are still allowed to have balloons on public land, people are still allowed to have balloons hanging out of shops,” she said.
“One of the things that sparked us to start the petition was we saw that Queenscliff Surf Club had celebrated some event … and they handed out balloons to every child and the room was just covered; there were balloons up in the ceiling bobbing around.
“Surf club life saving clubs are so close to the beach – they (balloons) shouldn’t be there … I have been part of Seabird and Turtle Rescue for many years as well. I’ve seen it first-hand and it takes a long time for turtles to recover and sometimes they don’t at all.”
The NBCCC website states that if a bird ingests a balloon or balloon fragment, it is 32 times more likely to die than if it ingests a hard plastic fragment.
“Ingesting balloons, and the clips and strings attached to them, can cause intestinal blockages and results in a slow painful death through starvation,” the website states.
“Next time, you are thinking of purchasing a balloon arch … please think again.”
NBCCC’s petition points out that while some surf life saving clubs had already implemented a balloon ban, the policy should be extended nationwide.
“There are many other alternatives to balloons: bunting, bubbles, Japanese paper balloons, paper planes or origami animals, paper kites, paper pinwheels, handmade paper stars and pompoms or flags,” the petition states.
“Let‘s get Surf Life Saving Australia to lead the way for a positive change for marine life by implementing the concept: Don’t inflate to celebrate!”
A spokesman from Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) told the Manly Daily that they support any sustainable and balanced initiative that assists in the protection of marine life and the environment.
“SLSNSW actively encourages environmentally sustainable activities and processes in all of its operations and events, in particular due to the ocean being also our ‘place of work’,” a spokesman said.
“As each surf club is its own separate entity that operates under a federation umbrella, SLSNSW would be required to consult with each of the 129 clubs on the banning of any activity or use of material/s. If this was a legislated legal requirement, SLSNSW would enact and support such a legislative stance.
“Surf clubs no longer uses single use plastics, do not utilise disposable water canisters, and SLSNSW encourages clubs to participate in clean up campaigns along the beaches.”
Manly Life Saving Club (MLSC) is one of few surf life saving clubs across the northern beaches that have banned the popular party decoration, stating on their site that they had a strict “no balloon policy or plastic partyware”.
“Due to MLSC’s close proximity to a sensitive marine environment, The Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, the Club has in place a no balloon policy,” their website states.
Tweed Shire Council in northern NSW recently announced that from January 1, 2023, balloons would be banned from all council buildings, parks and outdoor areas as part of the effort to protect marine life.
The council’s director of sustainable communities and environment Stewart Brawley said it followed a widespread acceptance of council’s initial ban on balloon releases.
“The community welcomed our initial ban on balloon releases, this is just another step forward in reducing our impact and keeping the rich and diverse ecosystems found across the Tweed free of harmful pollutants,” Mr Brawley said.
Northern Beaches Council does not have a council-wide balloon ban in place, but has implemented a ban at all council events including fun runs and concerts.
Miss Frick said that NBCCC approached Northern Beaches Council in early 2021, pushing for council to enforce a balloon ban in the renewed lease agreements for surf life saving clubs across the northern beaches LGA, however the ban was not implemented.
“I would like them (council) to review that, but it’s up to each individual surf club,” she said.
“They could have done it as part of a lease, but they didn’t. And that’s very disappointing.”
In February 2022, 700 people signed a parliamentary petition to follow Victoria’s footsteps and ban the release of any helium balloons in the atmosphere in NSW, with current laws making it illegal to release more than 19 balloons at a time in the state.
The NSW Government banned various single-use plastic items including plastic straws, plastic bags and cotton buds in June and November 2022, but the move did not include balloons and balloon strings.
The Northern Beaches Clean Up Crew’s petition to ban balloons in surf life saving clubs has 12,793 signatures to date with a goal of 15,000.
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