Ecowarrior calls for public education campaign and more litter traps in Merri Creek

ALMOST 200 bottles, 11 tennis balls and a fire extinguisher were among the items removed from Merri Creek at Somerton in just one day.

Wendy Moore was left horrified by the state of Merri Creek at Somerton. Picture: James Ross

ALMOST 200 bottles, 11 tennis balls and a fire extinguisher were among the items removed from Merri Creek at Somerton in just one day.

Friends of Merri Creek volunteer Wendy Moore is calling for more litter traps after recently discovering “a huge amount of litter” suffocating the creek near O’Herns Rd.

She filled seven garbage bags with 178 plastic and 14 glass bottles, 11 soft drink cans, two spray cans, 31 balls from cricket to golf, Christmas tree decorations, clothes, toys and a fire extinguisher.

Other items were enough polystyrene foam to fill a rubbish bag, pens, a wine cork, and an assortment of food wrappers, plastic and containers.

Litter collected by Wendy Moore from Merri Creek at Somerton.

“There are many more housing developments around Mount Ridley and Craigieburn and more industrial estates so there is a lot of extra urban stormwater going into the creek than ever before,” she said.

“The material collected here would only represent a small portion of material that was washed into the watercourse. It also only included buoyant items and not material that sank soon after it entered the creek.”

Ms Moore said the creek and adjoining grassland reserve were home to many birds and other wildlife, which were being harmed by rubbish dumping.

“Pollution in creeks, rivers and the sea is not only unsightly but is also a danger to wildlife and people,” she said.

“Plastics leach out many dangerous chemicals as they break down in the environment.”

Ms Moore said she wanted extra litter traps in the creek and a better public education campaign.

“People need to understand that litter dumped in gutters, stormwater drains, streets, parks and so on does not just disappear,” she said. Through the action of wind and rain it ends up in our local creeks.”

Melbourne Water regional manager Emily Phillips said on top of at least 16 litter traps in Merri Creek its crews undertook an ongoing maintenance program.

“Litter traps play an important role in managing litter in the creek but our best defence against the impacts of rubbish in waterways is to stop litter before it reaches them,” she said.

CLICK HERE to report rubbish dumping or phone the Environment Protection Authority on 1300 372 842.