Pondalowie partnership cleans up

Shack owners at Pondalowie recently partnered with Natural Resources Northern and Yorke staff in a major clean-up, removing rubbish that had been in the surrounding dunes for more than 30 years.

Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National ParkRanger in Charge, Mark Davison said, this clean-up was driven by the Pondalowie Shack Owners Association and it was great to be able to work alongside them to help restore this environment.

“We removed about 3.5 tonnes of steel from the dunes around the village – a lot of this was dumped before the area was declared a National Park in 1973,” he said.

The rubbish collected at Pondalowie included old rainwater tanks, boat jigs, sheet iron, cray pots and wire. Smaller items included bottles, cans, tyres, wood and rope were also found.

Rubbish in coastal zones damages dune, beach and ocean habitats, can injure wildlife and create a hazard for people enjoying coastal environments.

“This clean-up is an excellent example of the community working together with the State Government to address marine degradation in one of our pristine Icon National Parks,” Mr Davison said.

Brenton Chivell, President of the Pondalowie Shack Owners Association co-ordinated 18 shack owner volunteers to join Mark Davison, John Churchill and Jacob Beinke from Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Parkfor the clean-up.

The Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Parkteam supplied a truck, loader and skip bin for the clean-up as well as various hand tools.

Shack owners were also provided with training in the use of the Fire Trailer at the village, were assisted in preparing personal fire response plans and gained greater understanding of Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Parkprocedures that are in place for declared catastrophic fire days.

The association was also registered under the Natural Resources Northern and Yorke Volunteer Management Framework which will help the association recruit and retain volunteers they need to look after their patch into the future.

“The great turnout is testament to how much the shack owner’s care about their little piece of paradise. They’re passionate about protecting it for future generations and it’s great for us to be able to support these kinds of initiatives,”' Mr Davison said.

The clean-up day finished with a barbecue organised by the association. Another clean-up is planned for late April/early May to remove a similar amount of rubbish in a gully behind the village.

To find out more or to get involved, contact Mark Davison on 0427 347 064.