Smoking ban at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary a step closer
A bid to ban smokers from lighting up at a scenic Beaumaris beach sanctuary is gaining momentum, with hundreds joining a call to outlaw the dirty habit. And it was all sparked by a determined group of high school students.
Inner South
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Smokers could soon be forced to butt out at one of Beaumaris’s most precious beachside locations, following a passionate campaign to rid the shores of pollution.
Beaumaris Secondary students and the Marine Education Science and Community Centre (MESAC) joined forces in October last year to outlaw smoking at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.
And now more than 700 concerned residents have joined the fight by signing a petition, which will be handed to councillors before they vote on the matter on April 23.
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MESAC spokeswoman Virginia Mosk said it was exciting the council was considering the “serious issue”, and urged people to come and speak at the meeting to ensure the smoking ban was signed off.
“This causes countless problems including killing wildlife, polluting the air and water with serious toxins, and creating unsightly messes of tens of thousands of cigarette butts per year,” Ms Mosk said.
“These may or may not be collected by Beach Patrol Groups and others who pick up these out of the goodness of their hearts.”
Beaumaris Secondary foundation teacher Chelsie Millar said they got involved to protect the “delicate and diverse” marine sanctuary.
She said when visiting the sanctuary in December, it only took 10 minutes to fill up a large container with cigarette butts.
“For years we have witnessed tradies and sales reps doing their business while sitting in their cars and throwing their cigarette butts out the window, it’s disgusting,” Ms Millar said.
“Our students are very aware of what goes on in their local environment and they want to do something about it.
“We are starting to spend a lot of time at the sanctuary with our teaching and learning, classifying species and looking at the human impact of the marine ecosystem — and it needs to be protected.”
The campaign is part of a push to secure $20 million to enhance and greater protect the sanctuary.