River Patrol
Help us remove litter and marine debris to protect our waterways and marine life from the impacts of rubbish pollution
River Patrol is one of our keystone community engagement programs. Volunteers use our boat to remove litter from Sunshine Coast waterways. The litter is then sorted, recycled and quantified to record annual findings that are reported to stakeholders such as Sunshine Coast Council.
Our target clean up catchment is the Maroochy River, which suffers from significant litter pollution. This has a serious detrimental effect on aquatic life, water quality and important hydrological processes.
A River Patrol trip consists of a team of 2-4 members who meet at our depot and take our boat out to collect rubbish from the water, beaches and river banks. A range of items as large as car tyres to small microplastics are collected and then disposed of correctly after being documented. All safety equipment is provided by ECOllaboration.
We currently have approximately 20 volunteers who take around 81 trips a year to collect over 1,100 kgs of rubbish! Reach out today if you are interested in becoming part of our River Patrol crew.
Did you know...
You won’t believe what we find out there!
Read our River Patrol Report
Did you know...
YEARS
The River Patrol program has been running for over 22 years
TONNES
In this time we have removed over 40 tonnes of rubbish from the Maroochy River
HOURS
And our dedicated volunteers have put in over 660 hours per annum
ECOllaboration’s Commitment to the
Maroochy River
The Maroochy River has incredibly high environmental and community value, containing diverse aquatic ecosystems, holding cultural significance to traditional owners, supplying key drinking water sources and supporting recreational tourism.
Our goal is to help protect and restore the Maroochy through a comprehensive multifaceted approach, from revegetating dam sites right through to removing rubbish along coastal zones, here are some of our other projects dedicated to this invaluable natural asset.
WATER MONITORING
Target: Creeks and rivers fed by the Maroochy
Mission: Identify and report on water quality trends across over 40 river and creek sites
RIVERCARE PROGRAM
Target: South Maroochy River
Mission: Protect community drinking water sources by improving the environmental values of river/dam adjacent properties
