Location: Chunda Bay
Article: Written by Jo Hurford; Imagery by Jo Hurford
What a haul!……Thirteen Townsville Hike and Explorers (plus Teddy), headed to the northern end of Chunda Bay to pick up and clean up debris as part of Tangaroa Blue‘s ReefClean initiative.
Probably 98% of the debris had not washed in with the tide, but was left behind by people enjoying the views over Chunda Bay.
A few in the group, did brave the muddy, slippery and smelly mangroves to remove rubbish, including a broken camping chair. Other finds included:
– 18 flip flops or shoes
– 65 glass bottles (whole)
– 1000+ fragments of broken glass
– 48 aluminium cans
– 36 packaging items (bottle cap lids, bleach bottles, drink bottles, food wrappers)
– 13 recreational fishing items (lures, fishing line, ropes, crab pots)- battery- oil filter- headphones- tyres
We couldn’t pick it all up, as we only had so many hands and only so much muscle to lug up to 60 kg (guestimate) back to the car to be recycled or disposed of appropriately.
A few also took advantage of the trip to Chunda Bay to scramble up Chunda Rock for views over the mangroves, wetlands and coastline.
Many thanks for everyone who joined for Townsville Hike and Explore’s first official beach clean. Keep an eye out for more in future!
