Kids, parents, scouts and community groups teamed up for a massive effort on Clean Up Australia Day.
Forty-five passionate eco-heroes fanned out to tackle trash in their beloved patch of the Bohle. Some headed to Bushland Beach, others skated around their usual playgrounds, and several wandered along tracks near the Stoney Creek / Bohle River boat ramp.
Everyone left with a sense of accomplishment, having removed an impressive, and shocking, 2 tonnes of rubbish, showing what’s possible when a community comes together for a common cause.
One family kept their eyes peeled to complete an impromptu outfit, picking up a t-shirt and hat (though shorts were a no-show). But it wasn’t just small stuff, there were some mammoth items in the haul. A washing machine, BBQ, trailer, bed frame, and a jaw-dropping 19 tyres were amongst the finds, along with the usual suspects of plastic packaging and single-use plastics.
Founder and driving force behind TIDY Up Townsville, Dave Dudley said the TIDY group has run clean-up events, sometimes twice a year in the area for 6 years. And every time the same amount of trash is dragged out. It’s a bit like Groundhog Day.
Whilst all kinds of rubbish were collected, including litter and marine debris, the majority came from illegally dumped domestic and industrial waste. Around the Bohle, many tracks disappear into bushland or wetlands, concealing hidden dumping grounds.
TIDY Up’s community of volunteers are no stranger to this ongoing issue. They regularly target these hidden spots, cleaning up, raising awareness and pushing for change to the prolific problem in the area.
“High-traffic, visible areas get cleaned up regularly, but those that aren’t as visible are also heavily impacted, sometimes more so, and ongoing clean-ups are essential,” said Dave. “Though clean-ups are just a one-day fix, and more needs to be done to combat this environmental issue.”
Litter vs illegal dumping: what’s the difference?
Littering and illegal dumping differ in scale, motivation, and impact.
Littering usually involves smaller items (under 200L) carelessly discarded, such as tossing a cigarette butt or plastic bottle on the ground. It’s quick, easy and thoughtless. Illegal dumping, however, involves hauling larger items, such as household objects, construction debris or hazardous materials, and intentionally leaving them somewhere, often in remote areas.
Both activities come with serious consequences. They create an eyesore, attract even more illegal dumping, and cause significant environmental damage.
Kara-Mae Coulter-Atkins, Executive Officer for the Healthy Waters Partnership, explained that waste can travel far beyond its initial drop point, wreaking havoc along the way.
“Waste that gets blown or washed into our rivers and creeks can fuel algae blooms, harm wildlife and contaminate waterways. Rubbish uses the waterway as a highway, flowing downstream, all the way to the Great Barrier Reef.”
Littering and illegal dumping are major issues in Townsville and are the most visible sign of pollution in our environment. It’s not out of sight, out of mind. Something can be done about it, with efforts easily noticeable and something everyone can get involved in.
A perfect alignment for wet season
Clean Up Australia Day has become a national tradition and is held on the first Sunday of March. Whilst chosen because it generally provides pleasant weather across most of Australia, it also occurs near the end of wet season in North Queensland.
“Earlier this year, rainfall across the Ross and Black catchments broke records and many rivers reached moderate to major flood levels,” explains Kara-Mae.
Local rivers like Louisa Creek, Stoney Creek, and Saunders Creek, all drain into the Bohle River. With almost half of Townsville’s population living in this sub-basin, it bears a heavy urban load, lots of rubbish included.
“Clean Up Australia Day provided the perfect opportunity to remove any rubbish that had washed ashore or become entangled in mangroves after the recent rains,” continues Kara-Mae.
“We are grateful for our Partners who rallied their communities to champion for the Bohle and help keep our rivers, creeks and coastlines healthy.”
Our Champions of the Bohle this Clean Up Australia Day include a bunch of our incredible partners; OzFish Unlimited, TIDY Up Townsville, Townsville City Council, North Queensland Conservation Council and EcoMarines Foundation.
You too can be a Champion of the Bohle
In the 2024 Waterways Report Card, the Bohle River freshwater sub-basin received a D or poor grade for water quality. If the Bohle is your basin, and chances are it is, here’s ways you can support it and reduce the impacts of waste:
Help keep Townsville beautiful by reporting any litter or illegally dumped items to Townsville City Council via Snap Send Solve.
Remember that stormwater drains flow straight to our waterways. Don’t throw any litter in the street or gutter, parks or garden. If you can’t find a bin to dispose of your rubbish, take it home and throw it away then.
Create less rubbish by purchasing products with less wrapping and take reusable coffee cups, bags and cutlery with you when you leave the house so you can refuse single-use.
Join one of Partners and volunteer at a clean-up event.