The Meander Valley Council will take part in the Clean Up Australia Day 2018 initiative after approving a motion from Councillor Deborah White at September’s council meeting.
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The national day is on Sunday, March 4, and will see communities around Australia hit the streets to clean up their neighbourhoods.
Meander Valley’s involvement in the program will see schools contacted to take part in the day.
As a part of the project, the council will also involve itself in a campaign to change people’s attitudes towards littering and waste management.
“It builds on a small activity we did in Weegena this year,” Meander Valley mayor Craig Perkins said.
“It’s about encouraging community groups and schools to get involved to raise awareness about the importance of disposing litter properly and recycling properly.
“We’re helping people get involved any way we can.”
The project will cost the council about $5000 according to the financial impact report.
This includes advertising costs, employee attendance and administrative expenditure.
The campaign will involve school education sessions, advertising slogans and canvassing interest from community groups to support the council’s actions.
The motion, written by Cr White, said that littering was negatively affecting the local tourism industry.
“On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, riders of the Tasmanian Trail were distressed to find litter of all kinds dumped throughout the trail,” the motion read.
“Anti-littering signs are being disregarded by a populace, which is visibly unconcerned about threats of fines.”
The initiative also ties in with the council’s waste management plan and environmental objectives.
The plan states that the council aims to be a community leader in waste management by minimising the impact of littering and by providing education to members of the community.
Notices will be placed in the Meander Valley Gazette over the next six months to attract interest from schools and community groups.