Clean up crew wants help to hit beach

CAITLIN NOBES | Friday, January 21, 2011 9:04

No one wants to see rubbish on beaches and a national organisation is hoping locals will step up to help clean up around Napier.

Sustainable Coastlines has been working in New Zealand for about two years, getting schools and community groups together to pick up rubbish from beaches around the country.

The group will be working around Perfume Point to the Port of Napier tomorrow.

Co-founder Sam Judd said they encouraged people to get involved.

"It's about motivating people to look after the coastlines they already love," he said.

Sustainable Coastlines was working with Luke Recordings and the Fly My Pretties Summer Showcase at Black Barn tomorrow afternoon. Spot prizes would include merchandise from the tour and the organisation's T-shirts and drink bottles. Discount coffees from East Pier would also be available for those taking part.

"It's really awesome to have the support from Fly My Pretties and Luke Records," Mr Judd said. "We can raise awareness and show people what can be achieved with a whole bunch of people."

The organisation always had rubbish collected into 43 categories so figures could be determined on what was being dumped.

A Rangitoto Island clean-up found 3500 straws, for example.

Napier City Council environmental services engineer Ricki Freemantle said the city had few problems with rubbish on beaches, partly because of such public events.

The council also had staff patrolling and cleaning up around the city.

"Where we can, the council assists with these events," Mr Freemantle said, adding that the Napier public was quite receptive to getting involved in such events.

Sustainable Coastlines has extended an invitation to all Hawke's Bay residents and organisations to help on the day.

At tomorrow's Fly My Pretties show, the clean-up organisers will have a stall with examples of rubbish collected.