Southern Highlands Pre-Season Clean Up

Prior to the opening of the season each year, a group of dedicated Bronte/Bradys Lake locals and shack owners get together to clean up camp sites and lake shores in the Southern Highlands area.

The idea was originally started by Ken and Marea Orr and the Miena police officer, Steve Timmins. It has become an annual event for a group of dedicated volunteers in recent years, including Inland Fisheries inspectors, Steve Hepworth and Adam Scurrah, who also supply vehicles and trailers for the rubbish collection.

This year, more locals, shack owners and people employed in the area as well as those from further afield, joined in the clean-up. The event has also attracted some local council funding to reimburse fuel costs for those using their own vehicles and also to provide for a barbeque and drinks at the end of the clean up.

Shane Broadby, a long time member of the group, reported back that the amount of rubbish collected was less than in previous years but he was still dismayed that some people continued to treat this unique and beautiful environment with a lack of regard.

Some strange items have been collected over the years including toilet bowls, double bed mattresses and rolls of carpet. This year there was a fridge and a complete shower bay picked up, a three seater lounge and a bath tub from Lake Echo! By far the most common items were stubbies and cans, with around 200 bags of rubbish collected over the day.