City of Wagga Wagga to tackle trash by land and water this Clean Up Australia Day, Sunday 5 March

Row, row, row your boat, give the lagoon a clean?

City of Wagga Wagga staff will be tackling trash by land and water on Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday 5 March.

This year’s community clean up site will be Flowerdale Lagoon, with the "SS Wollundry" heading out to net floating rubbish.

City of Wagga Wagga’s Environmental Education Officer Alice Kent said the site was chosen as rubbish littered elsewhere in the city flows down to the lagoon with stormwater

"If you drop your rubbish on Glenfield Road, the next time it rains it ends up in Flowerdale

Lagoon," she said.

"Flowerdale Lagoon is a significant Wiradjuri cultural site and important ecosystem that is often impacted by both stormwater pollution and illegal dumping.

"Clean Up Australia Day’s 2016 Rubbish Report for NSW also found waterways were one of the most polluted sites, with an average of 284 rubbish items found per site.

"If cleaning up our community floats your boat, then head down to the clean up site on 5 March and take part."

The community clean up is coordinated by the City of Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga Urban Landcare Group and the Wagga Wagga Tidy Town Sustainable Community Committee.

There are a total of 32 sites registered across the Local Government Area, including three businesses for the 28 February Business Clean Up Day and 20 schools for the Schools Clean Up Day on 3 March.

"The business day is a great opportunity for workplaces to participate in their community,"

Miss Kent said.

"Many organisations look for opportunities to involve their staff in community work and what better way to contribute than by keeping our city beautiful.

"We always have great support from local schools and it’s important the next generation is educated about our environment."

The community clean up will take place from 10am to noon on Sunday 5 March at Flowerdale Lagoon, with volunteers asked to meet at the rest area off the Sturt Highway near Edward Street West. Participants should wear enclosed footwear, sun protection including hat, bring along a pair of gardening gloves and a bottle of water. Rubbish collection bags will be provided.

Please note only designated City of Wagga Wagga staff members will be allowed to utilise the boat.

For more information about the community clean up, visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/environment.

Schools Clean Up Day - Friday 3 March contact details:

The Riverina Anglican College, Farrer Rd
Contact: Ian Begg on 6933 1811

Lutheran Primary School Wagga, Tamar Drive
Contact: Jane on 6923 8100