Catch It in the Catchment Report
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Catch it in the Catchment Report A community clean-up of kanamaluka / The Tamar Estuary Sunday November 10 2019 Figure 1: Clean-up site locations 25 sites, 300 participants, 200 bags of rubbish Tamar NRM's Catch it in the Catchment Report 2019 Page 1 | 12 kanamaluka / Tamar Estuary - an Asset Worth Preserving The kanamaluka / Tamar Estuary is a 70km long estuary occupying a drowned river valley. Brackish, due to its tidal range reaching as far as the confluence of the North and South Esk rivers, the estuary dominates the largest catchment in Tasmania, covering over 20% of Tasmania (about 11,000km2). Launceston, the major regional city located at the head of the kanamaluka/ Tamar Estuary, is one of the many settlements scattered along the estuary’s length. The valley has a range of land uses and in recent years, an increased focus on the Tamar has challenged communities to re-evaluate the way they view this waterway and recognise its cultural, economic, social and ecological values. The kanamaluka/Tamar estuary displays a range of habitats and corresponding biodiversity and is a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). KBAs are internationally recognised areas of high conservation value. The Tamar KBA extends from Launceston to the Batman Bridge. The Tamar Wetlands is the core area with greater habitat diversity than anywhere else on the Estuary. The bird life on the wetlands is spectacular, both in numbers and diversity, over 60 species – a reflection of the diverse habitat. There are 110 species of fish in the waterway and biodiversity ’hotspots’ are inhabited by soft corals, sponges and kelp forests, Figure 2: Burrowing crayfish located in the supporting animals such as: anemones, molluscs, crustaceans kanamaluka/Tamar near Launceston. Source: and Weedy Sea Dragons. The estuary mouth is a declared Shark https://www.examiner.com.au/story/6417668/a- Refuge Area. Recently, burrowing crayfish were discovered in cray-zy-fish-find-on-river/ the upper reaches of the estuary in Launceston. QVMAG’S David Maynard remarked: “In the lower kanamaluka/ Tamar Estuary there a number of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ and amongst the animal assemblage, there are many species yet to discover.” As well as the estuary’s important biodiversity values, businesses also place an important value on the Tamar. Alfie Gude, Manager of Tamar River Cruises, understands the importance of ensuring the Tamar is well maintained "It is of a high value importance to all businesses in the area. As tourist numbers grow in the north of the state, the Tamar specifically draws tourist attention to Launceston and the Tamar Valley." With a direct link to Bass Strait and Marine environments, the kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary catchment guides overland, urban and stream flow into the estuary, and along with it, litter. Wind-blown litter, and that which is unintentionally or illegally dumped, also makes its way into the estuary and its tributaries. The relationship between catchments and marinepollution is clear to the Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies (IMAS), Adrift Lab team. Headed by Dr Jenn Lavers, the team’s ongoing research draws attention to the alarming impact of plastic pollution onmarine life such as seabirds. https://adriftlab.org/ “Considering our research concentrates on the impact of plastic pollution on marine life, mainly sea birds, we know the importance of these events (clean-up days) to help stop the 80% of plastics that enter our oceans via the catchments where we live”, quoted Dr Jenn Lavers. Because of all the different values of the kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary, and the impacts litter has on them, Tamar NRM decided to run a whole of catchment, community clean-up event in 2019 - Catch it in the Catchment. Catch it in the Catchment – What Tamar NRM Aimed to Achieve To remove rubbish from the kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary, as it is detrimental to its ecological health, aesthetic value and economic potential To increase the communities' understanding of the impact human activities and behaviours can have on the waterways in the Catchment. To offer a broad range of stakeholders an opportunity to participate in a positive community action as a way of responding to the problem of litter in the estuary. Tamar NRM's Catch it in the Catchment Report 2019 Page 2 | 12 Making a Start – the Event Launch July 30th marked the final day of Plastic Free July and the promotion of the first ‘Tamar Valley’ clean-up event – Tamar NRM's Catch it in the Catchment. A significant date, as it was anticipated that plastics might form the bulk of rubbish collected. Tamar River Cruises hosted the launch during a short cruise from Home Point to Cataract Gorge. Representatives aboard included – Tamar NRM, City of Launceston Council Mayor, West Tamar Council Mayor, Clean Up Local, TBUG (Tasmanian Bicycle Users Group), TAC - Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, Plastic Free Launceston, IMAS Adrift Lab and local community group representatives. Presentations and reflections about the kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary were delivered by Tamar NRM’s Greg Lundstrom, West Tamar’s Mayor - Christina Holmdahl, NRM North’s - Dr Darcy Leong, City of Launceston Waste Management Officer- Michael Attard and IMAS Adrift Lab researcher - Dr Morgan Gilmour. Media attending and covering the event included - WIN News, Chanel 7 News, The Examiner Newspaper and ABC Radio. Event Promotion to the Community The Catch it in the Catchment event relied on local media outlets assisting to promote the event to ensure wide scale community engagement in the months leading up to November 10th. Event promotion and media coverage included: ABC Radio interview on Belinda King’s Breakfast program - with Trish Haeusler and Michael Attard, City of Launceston Council Waste Management Officer ABC Radio pre-recording of local school children’s promotion Catch it in the Catchment jingle City Park Radio – interview with Trish Haeusler LAFM – Interview with Tamar NRM’s, Greg Lundstrom ABC Radio Saturday morning show - Joel Rhinberger’s interview with Tamar NRM's Gill Basnett. Promotion by George Town FM station Posters/ Flyers distributed to cafes, businesses and community centres in George Town, Greens Beach, Beaconsfield, Gravelly Beach, Beauty Point, Exeter and Launceston Dedicated Facebook page Local promotion by site coordinators – local posters, letter box drops, social media Visits to schools and community centres Flyers at Harvest Market and local businesses. Partnerships Table 1: The main partnerships that made Catch it in the Catchment possible. Clean up Australia Plastic Free Launceston City of Launceston NRM North Council George Town Council West Tamar Council Tamar NRM's Catch it in the Catchment Report 2019 Page 3 | 12 A Community Response Figure 3: Launceston Rock Climbers on the Zig Zag Track Figure 4: North Esk Group The Catch it in the Catchment clean-up event attracted a range of participants including community and local service groups, sporting clubs and students, as well as individuals who joined in at sites identified. With a total of 300 participants, covering 25 clean-up sites, the response suggests that communities are prepared to give up a small amount of their time to be involved in an event they believe is important and achievable. Table 2: Catch it in the Catchment statistics Number of registered clean-up sites 25 Number of volunteer participants 300 Total Volunteers hours estimate 900 Kilograms of rubbish bagged (large items not included) 1178 Figure 5 Harper from Clean Up Local Number of bags collected 200 Table 3: Clean-up site locations East Tamar Launceston West Tamar 1. Low Head – Lulworth 5. Faulkner Park - NRM North 13. Legana – Legana Foreshore Community Association 6. Newnham Creek - TBUG Group 2. George Town 7. North Esk river at Esk Market - 14. Rowella – Local residents 3. Bell Bay - Tamar Yacht Scotch Oakburn 15. Tail Race - Youth Advisory Club 8. River Bend - Clean Up Local Council of West Tamar 4. Hillwood Progress 9. Home Point/ Royal -Park Plastic 16. Rosevears - Local Community Association Free Launceston 17. Gravely Beach – West Tamar 10. South Esk River/ Cataract Gorge - Landcare Group Northern Climbers Club Tasmania 18. Swan Point - Local Community 11. Tamar Rowing Club site - Tamar 19. York Town – Kelso Fire Brigade Rowing Club members and 20. Little Swan Point - Launceston Trevallyn Primary School Field Naturalists and Exeter Girl 12. Kings Meadows Rivulet - Guides Launceston Field Naturalists and 21. Clarence Point – Local residents Friends of Punchbowl Reserve and Friends of Clarence Point 22. Redbill Point - Friends of Redbill Point 23. North Arm - Kelso Fire Brigade 24. Greens Beach - Kelso Fire Brigade Tamar NRM's Catch it in the Catchment Report 2019 Page 4 | 12 How the clean-up morning progressed Between 9 am – 12 pm on Sunday November 10, participants met site coordinators at one of 25 sites along the east and west Tamar or at a Launceston site. All participants were required to register with Clean Up Australia (this was done on-line or on the day at each site) and were briefed about the following before commencing: Safety (Tamar NRM completed a risk assessment to cover potential hazards at sites prior to the event) First aid if required Clean-up area Weighing and auditing rubbish methods Rubbish collection sites. All the smaller items of rubbish was bagged and left along with any larger items at the designated sites for Council pick-up. The three Councils involved in the event assisted with the rubbish collection on the day after the event. In Launceston, two skips were provided free of charge by - one at the Riverbend site, to service three close-by working groups, and the second at Tamar Rowing Club. The skips proved to be a preferred option, as bags could be emptied to be reused on the day and for future clean- up events. Figure 6: Emptying rubbish into Veolia skip at Riverbend Figure 7: Kelso Fire station rubbish drop off site Figure 8 Rosevears Group Figure 9: Field Naturalists – Kings Meadows rivulet.