Mum battles littering
VINCENT mother-of-three and environmentalist Tiff Bond is doing her best to protect Townsville’s coastline from toxic pollutants.
She is calling for action to remove unsightly and harmful beach debris on The Strand, at Pallarenda and Rowes Bay.
Various items litter the famous beaches including rope, dune matting, fishing line, black plastic and netting tangled in rocks and mangroves that Ms Bond is unable to remove.
Ms Bond said she had sent multiple emails to the Townsville City Council and Department of Environment and Science (DES) reporting the permanent beach debris.
“I received a response from DES last Friday and they are currently in the process of removing the debris that I have reported,” she said.
Ms Bond said it felt great to have her voice heard.
Apart from actively lobbying for the debris to be removed, Ms Bond has been spending her mornings picking up trash from Townsville beaches.
She said the most common items were cigarette butts, straws and microplastics.
“I have also found a hypodermic needle, takeaway cups, plastic cutlery, rubber thongs, whipper snipper cable, clothes and plastic bags,” she said.
A council spokesman said had received four comit plaints regarding beach debris in 2018 and 2019.
The spokesman encouraged people to do their bit in keeping the region clean.
“Council undertakes regular inspections of the beaches in the Townsville region to ensure they remain in the best possible condition,” he said. “Members of the public should always ensure that they place litter and waste in bins provided along our beaches so this litter does not contaminate our beautiful beaches.”
Ms Bond said she hoped there would be more done in the future to combat littering.
“Education is the key and there needs to be more of a focus in schools,” she said.
“There needs to be programs for the next generation, however it might be too late at the rate we are going.”