Elwood Canal Action Team’s Tracy Harvey was asked to leave last week’s Council meeting after she interjected with complaints about litter flooding the bay via the Elwood Canal. TWiSK gave her an opportunity to explain what moved her to interrupt.
Elwood Canal Action Team collects up to 40 kilos of litter from Elwood Canal & Elster Creek diversion drain every week.
But this is a drop in the ocean because:
Over 100 tonnes of forever plastics & toxic waste are entering the bay every year from surrounding waterways & drains.
40 tonnes from Elster Creek diversion drain exits from Elwood Pier into the bay every year.
10 tonnes from Elwood Canal exits at Marine Parade into the bay every year.
ECAT has lobbied Melbourne Water & Port Phillip council to install end of line litter traps – to no avail.
State Government is not spending the money on necessary infrastructure to stop litter and toxic waste entering the bay. Melbourne Water and local councils are doing the bare minimum to address the problem.
Our new Mayor’s priority is to build more dog parks, rather than provide a safe habitat for marine life in Port Phillip Bay. Not good news for bay swimmers, divers & fishers.
Port Phillip Bay dolphins have the highest known level of PFAS chemicals in the world. (Source)
Port Phillip Bay is fast becoming a rubbish dump under our watch. Government leadership on plastic litter control is sadly lacking.
Tracy Harvey
Elwood Canal Action Team
