Residents encouraged to step up on Clean Up Australia Day

Orange City Council is encouraging residents to roll up their sleeves and get involved in Clean Up Australia Day activities on Sunday 7 March.

Clean up Australia Day has been inspiring communities to clean-up and conserve the environment for more than 30 years and in 2021 the theme is ‘Step Up to Clean Up’.

Volunteers can simply turn up on the day and join in the clean-up at three Council-registered sites:

1. Elephant Park and surrounds including Moulder Park, with the focus being along Blackmans Swamp Creek. This site is being hosted by Orange City Council. Registration from 10am with a 12.30pm finish followed by a barbecue lunch.

2. Skate Park on the corner of Anson and Warrendine streets. This site is being hosted by the Environmentally Concerned Citizens of Orange (ECCO). Registration from 10am and finishing at noon. Heading over to Elephant Park afterwards to join in the barbecue lunch.

3. Residents of Clifton Grove are hosting a clean-up day. Registrations at the mud hut from 10am and finishing at noon. Followed by a barbecue lunch.

Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said the amount of bottles and cans littered in the city had been reduced since the Return and Earn recycling scheme was established.

“The amount of litter in the city has been reducing every year, which is great progress, but we still have a long way to go to solve the litter problem across the city,” Cr Kidd said.

“This is one way to get people of all ages involved in cleaning up our city and teaching our children and grandchildren the importance of conserving the environment for the future.”

Volunteers are reminded to wear a hat, closed-toed shoes and bring gloves if they have them, however gloves will be provided for those who don’t.

Sunscreen and rubbish bags will also be provided at the clean-up sites, along with drinks and a free barbecue at the conclusion of the clean-up.

There will be hand sanitiser available and volunteers will be required to use the QR code to check in with their mobile phone.

Tidy Towns Committee Chair, Councillor Kevin Duffy said Council and residents have been enthusiastic supporters of Clean Up Australia Day for many years and urged community members to continue that great record.

“We are all very proud of our beautiful city and it would be great if we could all band together to keep it that way,” Cr Duffy said.

“If residents can’t make it to a clean-up event on Sunday, they can do their bit by simply picking up litter in their own streets.”