Tallebudgera Creek a ‘dumping ground’ after 1.5 tonnes rubbish haul by Positive Change for Marine Life

One of the Gold Coast’s most pristine natural waterways has been labelled a “dumping ground” after more than 1.5 tonnes of rubbish was recovered.

ALMOST 23,000 pieces of rubbish or debris was hauled out of one of the city’s most pristine natural assets in seven months.

Environmental group Positive Change for Marine Life has collected 1.5 tonnes of rubbish along the length of Tallebudgera Creek.

The group, which consisted of volunteers kayaking through the creek once a week, found 22,925 pieces of litter and debris — or about 570 pieces of rubbish per kilometre.

ENVIRONMENTAL DIVERS PULL 1.75 TONNES RUBBISH FROM SEAWAY

For seven months, environmental group Positive Change for Marine Life recorded how much rubbish was found along the length of Tallebudgera Creek, Gold Coast. Picture: supplied

Gold Coast co-ordinator Christelle Legrand said items dumped including plastic straws, bottles, cutlery, construction netting, discarded furniture and hundreds of plastic bags.

More than 10,000 polystyrene balls — tiny beads usually found inside beanbags — were collected during just one survey.

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“These small foam balls float, are difficult to collect and are easily mistaken for fish roe or other organic matter — a food source for a variety of species in the creek,” Ms Legrand said.

PLASTIC POLLUTION A BALLOONING ISSUE FOR GOLD COAST WATERWAYS

Volunteers picking out polystyrene balls from the waterway. Picture: supplied

“Ingestion by turtles, fish, crustaceans, birds and other species is a common occurrence and contributes to sickness or death if consumed in high numbers or alongside other inorganic items.

“The scale of debris indicates the creek is increasingly being used as a dumping ground, whilst also collecting the community’s mismanaged waste from nearby residential areas, especially from storm water drain run-off and heavy rain events, which wash litter into the creek.”

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A volunteer picking out debris from the creek. Picture: supplied

Large numbers of cigarette butts and their packaging were also found during the clean up. A “cigarette butt hotspot” was under the Pacific Motorway overpass at West Burleigh, where the group believes commuters are flicking their butts from the car.

The vast amount of rubbish collected lead to the group giving the creek an F-plus rating on their Marine Debris Report Card.

State Member for Burleigh Michael Hart was surprised to hear the creek’s low rating, saying at first glance the creek did not appear to be so badly polluted.

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Some of the rubbish found in the creek. Picture: supplied

“I find that hard to believe myself but if that’s what they say, then people need to be picking up their rubbish,” he said.

“Especially the people who back on to the canals … and a lot of people spend their weekends there. They need to be more careful with their rubbish.”

He said he was ashamed that so much rubbish had been found there and would take the issue up with National Parks and Wildlife, as well as the council.

He suggested the council could place more bins along the creek.

Positive Change for Marine Life said it would now focus on phase two of the project to engage stakeholders across the region to work towards an A rating.