Lifting the Wairau Bar

Eager Marlburians are asked to dig in for an environmental cleanup by a local election candidate putting her money where her gloved hands are.

Organiser and Blenheim Ward candidate Aimee Payne says the next northern Wairau Bar cleanup day, scheduled for Sunday, September 14 from 10am, is a positive reason to get hands dirty while building community spirit.

Blue Bins are providing the skip free of charge, Marlborough District Council will waive the dump fees, Te Pataka are supplying bladders of water and Rangitane o Wairau are providing an onsite lunch for volunteers.

Aimee hopes that the 8m3 skip doesn’t need to be filled, like last year.

“Environmental issues feel overwhelming sometimes, but having 100 people or more connecting at last year’s cleanup shows the hope and strength in people coming together”, she says.

“Last year we found some random things, like tractor tyres and a homemade blowtorch, but also beautiful nature like a native spotted gecko out there which really a standout for the kids to see.”

The day will focus on the northern end of the Bar, with some volunteers being placed at Gorsebush to spread the impact. Aimee says that while community days like Sunday make an obvious impact, but having regular visitors do their bit consistently is just as important.

“So many people just carry bags and take rubbish home with them when they walk these places, but having an open invite for people to come and make an impact together on a cleanup day brings together a real sense of community purpose.

“It’s always interesting to see the progression and regression, I went to a cleanup with a homeschool group six weeks ago and we came across albatross regurgitations with chunks of plastic in them which is heart breaking.

“Storms tend to stir up rubbish so it’s not necessarily new dumping, but it’s still rubbish that has continual impacts on our environment.

“This beautiful place is so important for so many reasons, from its historical significance to being a gathering centre for both wildlife and kai moana, so whatever your reason I hope you come and help.”

Meet at the Wairau Bar northern entrance from 9.45am.