Cancelled - Clean Up Australia

Clean Up Australia Day began with the vision of one man, Ian Kiernan AO.

As a keen sailor, Ian was deeply troubled by the amount of pollution and rubbish he encountered while travelling the world’s oceans. In response, he organised a community clean-up in 1989 called Clean Up Sydney Harbour, supported by a small group of friends. Expecting only a few hundred volunteers, he was astonished when more than 40,000 people turned up — sparking a national movement.

Building on this success, the first Clean-Up Australia Day was held in 1990. It has since become Australia’s largest community environmental event, evolving beyond clean-ups to advocate for waste reduction, recycling, and improved packaging legislation. These efforts have contributed to meaningful reductions in plastic use across manufacturing.

Clean Up Australia Day in Victor Harbor

Victor Harbor Coastcare has proudly coordinated Clean Up Australia Day locally since 2012, continuing the event every year with strong community support.

All rubbish collected is carefully itemised and recorded in a national database. This data helps track long-term trends, such as plastic use and cigarette butt pollution.

Over the years, Coastcare volunteers have observed increasing disregard for littering — particularly plastic lids, bottles and cigarette butts. Of growing concern is the rise in small lolly wrappers (such as Mentos wrappers), which do not break down easily and pose a significant environmental risk.

We believe the anti-litter message is no longer reaching parts of the broader community, especially younger generations who now appear to be contributing more heavily to the problem.

Among the more unusual items removed in recent years was a full drum kit, discovered in the local dunes.

Safety First

Volunteer safety is a priority. We provide:

• Syringe containers and clear procedures for safe collection
• A short safety briefing before the clean-up
• Guidance on being aware of surroundings, including unleashed dogs and snakes

Volunteers are encouraged to wear sunhats, sturdy shoes, and suitable clothing.

Event Details – 2026

📅 Sunday 1 March 2026
🕘 9:00am – 11:00am
📍 Meet near the Causeway Café

On arrival, volunteers will receive directions to clean-up sites and a brief overview of safe collection practices. At the end of the morning, all rubbish is gathered and sorted:

• Recyclable bottles are taken to the recycling depot.
• Remaining waste is delivered to the Council depot for removal.

We then wrap up the morning with a friendly chat and a cuppa at the Causeway Café ☕

Get Involved

Clean Up Australia Day is a rewarding community event that achieves a great deal in just a few hours.

We encourage you to register before the day to assist with planning.

👉 Registration is available via the event page of our collaborating partner, Biodiversity Victor Harbor.

We look forward to seeing you there and working together to protect our beautiful coastline. 🌱