Clean Up Australia Day takes place Sunday 2 March 2025, this year the ACT Government will again participate and host two events to celebrate the 35th anniversary. Canberrans are encouraged to get involved and help make this the biggest one yet. “Crews are undertaking additional activities across the ACT. Like last year, crews will again be out in action on the day as well. You will see us in the Lanyon Valley on the southside and near Harrison Oval on the northside. I encourage interested Canberrans to join us at these sites, get to know some of the City Services crew members and learn more about what they do to support our beautiful environment.” Minister for City and Government Services, Tara Cheyne commented “The ACT Government has proudly supported Clean Up Australia Day for more than two decades. On top of their own daily litter picking and cleaning efforts, every year after the event our City Services crews pick up 500-600 bags of rubbish collected during the registered activities across the ACT, and arrange for their disposal. This year event organisers also have the option to drop-off the waste collected from their Clean Up Australia Day activity for free. They will receive a voucher to redeem at Mitchell or Mugga Lane Resource Management Centres. Event organisers can also choose for City Services to collect the waste.”
“We all know that litter challenges go far beyond one day and that is recognised by Clean Up Australia which is designed to inspire and empower communities to clean up, fix up and conserve our environment.As a reflection of this, our clean-up activities are extending beyond the day. For the next two weeks we are undertaking a range of additional efforts to reduce litter. This includes compliance activity to issue infringements for unsecure loads. Camera operations are underway at various locations to identify vehicles that are carrying loads where rubbish could fall off onto the road.” Minister Cheyne commented “Unsecure loads create litter on roadsides that is unsightly, and littering of any kind is illegal under the Litter Act 2004. This includes travelling with an uncovered load in a car, trailer, truck or ute, even if it does not result in littering.”The Minister explained that Unsecure loads are also a major safety hazard as litter can create dangerous projectiles and put motorists, pedestrians and cyclists at risk. Fines of $1,500 for an individual or $7,500 for corporations can apply for unsecure loads. Signage is being placed on roadsides reminding the community to cover their loads or risk a fine.
“Securing a load is easy and can be done with a purpose-built cover. Otherwise, a tarpaulin or other durable material can help to cover loose items. Crews regularly undertake litter picking on major roads including the Monaro Highway, Ginninderra Drive and Gungahlin Drive and unsecure loads can quickly undo their work which they take pride in.” Minister Cheyne commented“Compliance officers will also be out on the north and southside looking for abandoned shopping trolleys. Any trolleys found outside of a shopping precinct will be collected and impounded.Additional cleaning of our lakes and ponds is also underway to remove litter and debris. This includes litter that is floating in the water, washed up on the shoreline or trapped in the reeds.”