This month, you've been given one job – help clean up our city.
That's the message from Cairns Mayor Bob Manning ahead of the start of the Great Northern Clean Up, which kicks off on Saturday with an event at Glenoma Park in Brinsmead.
Residents are being encouraged to grab a rubbish bag, phone a friend, and find their nearest Great Northern Clean Up site to do your bit for the environment this September.
Cairns Regional Council is coordinating Great Northern Clean Up sites at 15 litter hotspots this year, from Ellis Beach in the north to Little Mulgrave in the south.
Residents of all ages are invited to 'join a crew near you', with several clean-up events being held every weekend throughout the month of September.
Last year, hundreds of volunteers helped to pick up 55 wheelie bins full of rubbish.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said this year, the clean-ups are needed more than ever to counter one of the side-effects of COVID-19 – a proliferation of single-use plastics.
"With cafes and restaurants using plastic take-out food containers and coffee cups for health reasons, along with the dramatic increase in disposable masks and gloves, unfortunately there's been a global increase in the use of single-use plastics," Cr Manning said.
"The Great Northern Clean Up is more than just volunteers picking up rubbish. It's a chance to do something positive – for yourself and the environment.
"Let's get this done – September is the perfect time to clean up our parks, foreshores and waterways.
"That way we pick up the litter before the wet season rains wash it out to sea where it could harm our reefs and marine life."
"All people need to do is find a clean-up site in your area and come along on the day. Council site coordinators will provide everything you need including bags and gloves."
"We will have a few extra measures in place this year to make sure the Clean Ups are also COVID-safe."
Participants receive clean-up tools, including bags and gloves, from Clean Up Australia Day.
This year, Council staff will run the clean-up sites, supply additional resources and arrange for the pick-up of the full litter bags.
Council will also use the Clean Up to track the types and volume of rubbish collected, which will help with education and enforcement activities around littering and illegal dumping.
Find the site nearest you by going to the ECOevents Facebook page, or searching for 'Great Northern Clean Up' on Council's website
Council coordinated Great Northern Clean Up Sites
- Saturday 5 September - Brinsmead – Glenoma Park, 8:30-11:30am
- Sunday 6 September - Ellis Beach foreshore, 8:30 -11:30am
- Saturday 12 September - Machans Beach foreshore, 8:30-11:30am
- Saturday 12 September - Manunda - Saltwater Creek, 8:30-11:30am
- Saturday 12 September - Parramatta Park – Smiths Creek, 8:30-11:30am
- Saturday 19 September - Forest Gardens Park – 8:30-11:30am
- Saturday 19 September - Holloways Beach – foreshore – 8:30-11:30am
- Saturday 19 September - Woree – Pezzutti Park – 8:30-11:30am
- Sunday 20 September - Edmonton – Ravizza Drive – 8:30-11:30am
- Sunday 20 September – Mooroobool – Shang Street Park – 8:30-11:30am
- Saturday 26 September – Goldsborough Valley – 8:30-11:30am
- Saturday 26 September – Smithfield – Sporting Precinct – 8:30-11:30am
- Saturday 26 September – Trinity Beach – Taylors Point – 8:30-11:30am
- Sunday 27 September – Little Mulgrave Park – 8:30-11:30am
- Sunday 27 September – Stratford – Rinks Close – 8:30-11:30am
