World Environment Day 2025

June 5th dawned cold and still at Banksia Beach but when the westerly blew up the temperature plummeted! However the wintry weather did not stop around thirty hardy and enthusiastic volunteers showing up to join BIEPA in the UN World Environment Day 2025 effort to Beat Plastic Pollution, the theme for this year's clean-up.

Three boats made their way across Pumicestone Passage to the Banksia Beach boat ramp, two fishing boats and a BBQ boat, with licensed skippers and willing boat crew. They picked up their passengers at the boat ramp and around 7.45 am headed up the Passage towards Gallagher's Point

The boats took limited numbers so anyone who could not fit on the stayed to clean up along the shore at Banksia Beach and Kakadu bird roost.

Ariana Doolan, MP, Terry Young, MP, Ali King former MP, and Brooke Savige Councillor, who were all invited and were unable to attend, sent encouragement and good wishes.

Community Sustainability Action Grant

BIEPA received a grant in 2024 for Marine Debris Clean-Up from the Qld Govt Community Sustainability Action Grants Program through the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science, and Innovation. This grant has enabled BIEPA volunteers to conduct numerous clean-up events over the past year.  This WED event was another one BIEPA has been able to fund from the grant.

Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 1973, World Environment Day has grown into the largest global platform for environmental awareness and action.

There is growing scientific evidence on the impacts of plastic pollution, and momentum to refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink plastics use. For decades, plastic pollution has seeped into every corner of the world, leaching into the water we drink, into the food we eat, and our bodies. While plastic pollution is a major concern, it is also one of the most fixable of today’s environmental challenges, with some obvious solutions at hand.

A rewarding day with a tasty reward

Our boaties returned at 10.30 and the rubbish they collected was laid out on the shore to be categorised, counted, and photographed. It is always a surprise and very sad to see how much can be collected in such a short time, even from areas that look fairly clean. This particular haul weighed in at 120kgs!

The morning concluded with a delicious lunch of tasting boards laid out by Pavlovian Response, a Brisbane based catering business that provided compostable plates and bowls. Many were made out of leaves in line with the "reduce plastic" theme.