Despite overcast skies and a very low tide limiting access to Erina Bay, the students worked diligently to remove litter from various mangrove areas.

The cleanup began in the mangroves adjacent to the main oval, where students collected litter predominantly originating from stormwater drains along the Central Coast Highway. The team then crossed to the Green Point mangroves, where only small amounts of litter were found, but five car tyres were retrieved.

Yattalonga mangroves proved to have a higher concentration of small litter, with students filling five full bags in addition to removing oyster baskets, a kayak, mattresses, and timber. Due to the low tide, all collected waste had to be carried 50 metres to the barge. Meanwhile, on Sunday’s Clean Up Australia Day, Dave Read and Graham Pace gathered five full bags of litter from the Erina Creek mangroves, which were then loaded onto the barge.

Further efforts in Erina Creek led to the removal of three crab traps and three additional bags of small litter. Additionally, an abandoned campsite near a local hotel was thoroughly cleaned, with bulk rubbish being collected from the area.

The morning concluded with a significant haul of rubbish being returned to the school. Students and staff alike enjoyed a productive and rewarding experience, making a tangible difference in their local environment