Shellharbour City Council in collaboration with Wollongong City Council will host a Seaside Scavenge on Sunday 6 November from 10am-2pm to help clean up and maintain the Lake Illawarra shoreline.

The Seaside Scavenge encourages communities across the Illawarra to clean up and conserve their local area.

The event will feature live music, talks from eco-change makers and a pop-up market where you can trade trash for tokens to buy pre-loved clothes books, toys and more.

The Seaside Scavenge will be held at Reddall Reserve, Lake Illawarra as part of the ’Luv the Lake’ campaign and broader litter prevention program in partnership with Wollongong City Council and Take 3 for the Sea.

‘Luv the Lake’ aims to increase community participation, pride, respect and ownership of the lake and its surrounds by providing them with the support necessary to tackle the number one identified threat to the health of Lake Illawarra – litter.

Shellharbour and Wollongong Councils are encouraging the community to roll up their sleeves and take part in the event, with incentives including tokens for trash provided as a currency for a preloved pop-up market.

The Seaside Scavenge event hosted by Shellharbour and Wollongong Councils is occurring simultaneously with the Rise and Shine Community Clean Up of Lake Illawarra organised by Wollongong City Council.

In addition to the main event at Reddall Reserve hosted by Shellharbour Council, several other clean-up events will occur simultaneously across the lake, thanks to the Rise and Shine Community as part of a whole of lake clean up organised by Wollongong City Council.

Locations for the Rise and Shine clean ups include Berkeley Boat Harbour, Port Kembla Sailing Club, Hooka Point Park and Wetland, Kanahooka Point, Lake Illawarra Yacht Club, and Rowing Centre. 

The Seaside Scavenge clean-up at Reddall Reserve is also has a range of festivities associated with the event including a ‘Yarn on Sea Country’, environmental education stalls and activities hosted by local community groups as well as government agencies and live music.

Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer said the event was a great opportunity to get involved and help stop litter including fishing materials, single use items, including masks and gloves and dumped rubbish from infiltrating the city’s ecosystems. 

“The past two years have shown disturbing cases of seabirds and wildlife found tangled in discarded masks,” he said.

“By working together and taking responsibility, we can help preserve and protect the beautiful Lake Illawarra and marine environment from litter and make sure that these spaces remain safe and clean for the future,” Mayor Homer said.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said the events were a practical way community members could be involved in caring for the lake.

“We know this lake is a space that is valued by our community not only for its beauty, but for its vital role in the local environment and ecosystem,’’ he said.

“By coming down and participate in the Seaside Scavenge or the Rise and Shine Community Clean up you can really help make a difference to this spectacular area.

“Many hands make light work, so I encourage those who have the time to come along and give our environment a helping hand.’’

The Seaside Scavenge is a NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Waste Less Recycle More initiative, funded from the waste levy.

EPA Executive Director Engagement Education and Programs Liesbet Spanjaard encouraged local residents to get involved in the clean-up.

“The Seaside Scavenge gives residents the opportunity to make a real difference by removing litter from a popular local spot, and participants will get an insight into the types of litter that can end up in waterways,” Ms Spanjaard said.

“Being involved in this type of practical activity can get the entire community thinking about other collective actions they can take to reduce litter in their community and protect their local environment, like Lake Illawarra.”

Register for the Seaside Scavenge. 

Media enquiries
Shellharbour City Council: 0448 361 008 or kelli.wells@shellharbour.nsw.go.au 
Wollongong City Council: 4227 7100 or mediaoffice@wollongong.nsw.gov.au