North Shore gets a makeover

More than 35 volunteers worked tirelessly to clear over 600kg of rubbish at the annual Gamaay Country North Shore Clean-Up on September 3.

For the past nine years South Cape York Catchments and Tangaroa Blue have worked together to hold beach clean-ups and collect data for the Australian Marine Debris Database, an initiative which feeds into a standardised national database on marine debris.

Cape York NRM Sustainable Industries Officer, Natalie James, and Grazing and Water Quality Project Officer, Harry James, offered up their time to drive vehicles in and move volunteers around the beach.

“Cooktown’s North Shore beach is a known rubbish hotspot on the Cape. Due to the tides and ocean systems, a lot of rubbish flows from other countries on to beaches around Cooktown,” Nat said.

“South Cape York Catchments put on a wonderful morning getting passionate people together to make a difference to our land. I was especially impressed with the number of young volunteers and their efforts on the day. One group of girls walked all the way from the north end of the beach to our pick-up point, about 4km away.

“It was great to play a small part in a  fantastic event to keep our beaches and oceans clean.” 

Cape York NRM would like to congratulate all organisations and volunteers involved in the successful beach clean-up.