“Our new project ‘Stop Litter in the Bay’ aims to change littering behaviours around our City,” he said.
“We were successful in gaining funding for the project, as part of a NSW pilot study, and we are initially focusing on cleaning up Cabarita Park by using innovative methods to engage and educate our community on the environmental impacts of littering.”
The Litter Prevention Project is a pilot study supported and funded by the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) with the aim to reduce litter in NSW and collect data for a national litter prevention strategy.
As well collecting national data, the study will target behaviours through a local campaign, ‘Don’t be a tosser, put it in the bin’ and provide funding for infrastructure improvements. Along with a handful of other NSW Councils, the City of Canada Bay was successful in securing first stage funding.
A chalk artist has been commissioned to create temporary educational artworks promoting the campaign in Cabarita Park and along the Bay Run.
“We also recently held a successful discussion and film night with leading environmentalist and plastic pollution spokesperson, Tim Silverwood, about the impacts of plastic in our waterways,” Mayor Tsirekas said.
“A mosaic artist will also be holding educational workshops and art classes on healthy waterways and the effects of litter in the bay at Mortlake Public School. The children will then produce a mosaic piece of art work titled ‘Healthy Waterways’ which will be installed at the disused BBQ area at Cabarita Park.
“I encourage our community to support this great environmental project that will benefit future generations to come.”
The City of Canada Bay is also using social media, such as its Facebook and Twitter platforms, to promote the chalk artwork and encourage the community to take photos of any they see and post it on social media.
Cabarita Park was chosen for the project due to high use of the weekends of social groups having picnics and barbecues and not disposing of their litter correctly. ‘Stop Litter in the Bay’ will address issues in the main picnic area by upgrading infrastructures; such replacing and relocating bins, installing signage, strategically placing ashtray bins and surveying onsite users.
To provide feedback on litter in the City of Canada Bay please visit: