Litter hotspot partnerships

The Yarra River is due to benefit from a recent Victorian Government announcement for plans to establish a series of community litter hotspot partnerships.

The Litter Hotspots Project has been established to help clean up the Yarra River and Port Philip Bay.

Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith said the new initiative would encourage community groups and councils to put forward plans on ways to reduce the amount of litter ending up in the bay.

Mr Smith said the plan would allow local communities to form direct partnerships with the State Government in a bid to encourage support for Melbourne’s iconic waterways.  

“Councils and community groups are encouraged to identify litter hot spots and submit project ideas for local responses to reduce the amount of litter ending up in our waterways,” he said.

Mr Smith said the $7 million plan is about attracting “local solutions”, with an initial $180,000 being allocated to support effective coordination and planning efforts with the community.

“We want local solutions to fix local hot spots. We know that many local residents and volunteers want to be involved as part of the solution in cleaning up our waterways – we want to help them to deliver these positive outcomes.”

Local government and community organisations are encouraged to apply. For more information visit www.mwmg.vic.gov.au