In the heart of Tasmania is the Central Highlands region – home to some of Australia’s most pristine fishing lakes. With a small human population of 2,000 and a trout population in the millions the Central Highlands is the ideal holiday spot for keen fishermen.
In the peak fishing months of September through to March the population of its quaint townships are swelled by an additional 30,000 people!
As good as this is for the tourism and the economy of local towns, there is a historic issue surrounding the additional litter created as a result of the influx of people to the camping and fishing areas, during the fishing season.
Litter is often left to scatter into the lakes affecting its ecology and the health of its inhabitants.
To address the litter issue, and following the consolidation of waste transfer stations in the region, a number of organisations have partnered with Anglers Alliance Tasmania (AAT) to encourage both residents and visiting anglers to Do the Right Thing and keep the Central Highlands Clean.
The partners in the project include a mix of government, non-government organisations and industry — AAT, Central Highlands Council, Hydro Tasmania, Inland Fisheries Service, Packaging Stewardship Forum of the Australian Food and Grocery Council, Recreational Lakes Committee, Sustainable Environmental Assessment and Management (SEAM) and Southern Waste Strategic Authority.
The $20,000 project has seen the installation of new Public Place Recycling (PPR) bin stations at 10 key township locations and supporting roadside signs at litter ‘hotspots’ within the region.
The roadside signs and the bins carry the Do the Right Thing message and brand image – a well known anti-litter message which has been running throughout Australia for over 30 years and is recognised by 80% of Australian’s as meaning ‘put your litter in the bin’.
In support of the new infrastructure, Central Highlands Council has promoted the locations and opening hours of the regions waste transfer stations including the materials they accept.
Waste transfer stations are at Arthurs Lake, Bothwell, Bronte Park and Miena as well as the Hamilton Tip, most waste is accepted with the exception of asbestos, refrigerators containing gas (and with doors on), gas bottles (with taps on) and chemicals.
Since the commencement of the project in August 2008, there has been a 40% increase in the volume of recycling collected through the new PPR bin s, five waste transfer stations and kerbside collection.
In the paste year the waste going to landfill has reduced by nearly 750,000kg and the amount of materials recycled has close to doubled. This is a reassuring result and proves that people are starting to Do the Right Thing.
Do the Right Thing is but a start of a concerted effort to return pride to the Central Plateau’s environment and new projects such as “Adopt a Water,” are planned over the next 12 months. Progress can be followed on AAT and Fishing Tasmania.
And, don’t forget to ‘Look Who’s Littering on the Roads’ and Report a Litterer on 1300 135 513. — Richard Dax, Chairman, Anglers Alliance Tasmania
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