Swan River Trust's maintenance work on river banks commended

29/12/94

Environment Minister Kevin Minson today praised the efforts of the five-man Swan River Trust team responsible for maintaining the banks of the Swan and Canning Rivers.

"These men work tirelessly throughout the year and their efforts play an enormous role in keeping the river banks, beaches and bridges in a clean and environmentallly sound condition," Mr Minson said.

"Maintaining the river banks is like painting the Sydney Harbour Bridge - you no sooner finish than it is time to begin again.

"Each season has its specific tasks while the job of removing rubbish is never-ending.

"Because we have a section of the community which is impervious to pleas to pick up their rubbish and either take it home and dispose of it or place it in a public bin, the amount of domestic rubbish removed each year is enormous.

"During the 1993-94 year the crew removed more than 170 tonnes of purely domestic rubbish.  This does not count the almost seven tonnes of dead blowfish, the 52 tyres, 17 shopping trolleys and a derelict boat."

In spring and early summer swimming beaches are cleaned and raked to remove debris.  Barnacles are scraped from ladders on public jetties and shallow water is checked for hazards.

At the height of summer beaches are cleaned of dead fish and camp fires left by prawning parties.  Weed removal from beaches is also an ongoing summer task as it blows in from the river and piles up on the banks.

Before winter, the upper reaches of both rivers are inspected and fallen trees, debris blockages and other obstructions are carefully removed to retain foliage which stabilises the banks and provides roosting places for birds and habitats for other animals.

During winter, jetties and bridges are cleared of debris which builds up through flooding.

"You have to take your hat off to these guys," Mr Minson said.

"Sometimes their job is quite dangerous.  Last year they picked up 42 syringes around the river banks.  Manoeuvring fallen trees in a flowing waterway is no picnic either."

Mr Minson said the crew sometimes found strange items among their haul.

"These include firearms and safes.  History does not relate why they were there, but all items of that nature are handed on to police," he said.

"While we continue to be plagued by those too lazy to remove their rubbish, there are many, many community members and groups who actively help conserve our waterways and to them I say - thank you and keep it up.

"Community involvement is paramount in our efforts to retain these waterways in as pristine a condition as we can manage.

"It takes more than simply Government involvement to address issues such as this."

Media contact:  Caroline Lacy 222 9595 or 321 2222