Poluting a Lake

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Araminta
Araminta's picture
Poluting a Lake

This morning I went to the lake where I took the photos of all those baby birds.I wanted to see how big the signets had grown, and take some photos of. other birds.
I can hardly express what I saw.People hadn't seen any of the little swans for days, the last ones were lost (?) too.'I couldn't help it, I just stood and cried. Looking at the poor Moorhen sitting amongst the rubbish.I didn't find many of those beautiful birds I posted only a few weeks ago.The ones that are left are swimming amongst a lot of rubbish.
I have just written to the Council, and if there is no action, I will go to the press. Any other ideas? I do not hold much hope anything will be done.? M-L

no wonder the poor bird is holding his head as if it's saying: O my god
Not enjoying this, M-L

Woko
Woko's picture

I guess there are lots of things that you could do, Araminta, but they take lots of time & energy. E.g.,
- clean the lake with some like-minded friends alongside a large sign explaining why you are doing this
- start a Friends of the Lake group
- approach the container & packaging manufacturers & ask them to sponsor the lake since much of their product ends up there
- lobby for container/packaging deposit legislation. If there was a $10 deposit on each container/package the lake would be much cleaner, I'm confident. The argument that deposits would be too costly for business & consumers to bear clearly doesn't take into account the cost to the environment of fouling it with society's detritus
Alas, I lose respect for Homo sapiens as a species when I see photos of this ilk. We seem to have an enormous propensity for s##@@@**ing in our own nest.

Qyn
Qyn's picture

I like the friends of the lake idea even as part of the first suggestion. You may be pleasantly surprised how many people will pitch in. Woko, unfortunately, it does not remain in "our own nest" but ends up in other species nests as well.

I wonder if all the rain has pushed this rubbish into the lake as some looks quite old and as if carried on rushing water. I know that does not help remove the rubbish or deny the fact that there was rubbish in the first place but it is more disheartening if it has been deliberately dumped. Also, if this is Yarra Valley Water's jurisdiction they along with the council (Pakenham??) can be approached regarding both clean-up and putting in rubbish traps in feeder streams to prevent rubbish getting into the lake in the future.

I am sorry for your distress but use it to get something done - I am sure you have not lost your "leftie" edge.

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Thanks Alison, I hadn't thought of Yarra Valley Waters. Some of the rubbish would come out of the drains, but I did a little door knock at the houses close to the lake, most people told me, that in the evening young and stupid people sit on the benches, get drunk and throw bottles ,stones and other things at the birds, or just in the water.
I'm not giving up without a fight, trust me. M-L

M-L

Woko
Woko's picture

You might have some founding members for the Friends of the Lake right there on the water's edge, Araminta, throwing rubbish at the birds. Maybe a skilled person could engage them in discussion about their probable lack of purpose in relation to how they could enhance the quality of the lake. Whammo! A clean lake, improved biodiversity & a group of youngsters with a feeling of achievement & less need to cost the community in terms of vandalism & other mayhem. Such a proposal would, of course, be readily accepted by the local council which will provide the necessary funding for the skilled youth worker & the gear to clean up the lake. Why, the young people might even take on the job of approaching the packaging industry about how they can enhance their environmental credentials by contributing less crap to the environment. Publicity for the young folks' efforts would really put the screws on the packagers. The possibilities are endless.

Araminta
Araminta's picture

I will go to the council and talk with them. I have been told many times in my life, that I am a hopeless Idealist, typical for the last remaining "lefties" from the sixties. Obviously there are a few more of us, like you Alison and Woko.
(Many years ago, when I was involved in many actions, my mother in law once told me: why don't you do something useful and contribute to society! Like earn lots of money and pay taxes?) I will try . M-L

M-L

Qyn
Qyn's picture

Involving the media as you mentioned is another way to go M-L especially if there is no luck elsewhere. I have had minor victories, once by mentioning that the media was my next step and another by writing to the local paper and then forwarding a copy of that letter to the council and those concerned. While the media can be useful, it is also fickle, but more often than not squeaky wheels do get oiled. Bonne chance, mon amie.

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

Woko
Woko's picture

Araminta, with my conservation values I'm clearly a very conservative leftie from the sixties to the naughties & beyond, I hope. I explain to my neocon friends that they are the radicals in trying to wreck planet Earth (what could be more radical than that?)& I'm the conservative in trying to preserve planet Earth. It at least gets them thinking. Not much action yet, tho'.
Good luck with whatever you do to clean the lake. I agree with you, qyn, the media can be very fickle. It'll interpret information in whatever way suits its editorial values & in whatever way contributes to its bottom line. Giving your story to a few media outlets might get you reasonably accurate publicity at some point.

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Good afternoon Marie-Louise,

Thank you for your correspondence. A request has been submitted under job reference number 582848 and has been assigned to Council's Parks and Gardens contractor to action.

If further information or discussion is required regarding the matter please contact Council's Customer Service Centre on 1300 787 624 or via return email and quote the job reference number.

Kind regards,

Alisa James | Senior Officer Customer Service | Cardinia Shire Council
Fax: 5941 3784 | Email:

| Web: www.cardinia.vic.gov.au PO Box 7 Pakenham VIC 3810 | Customer Service: 1300 787 624

well,well, this is the first reaction. I have written to several councilors and sent some photos. I will now give them a week, before I think about more drastic actions. I have to give them a chance, see what happens? M-L

M-L

Qyn
Qyn's picture

That is an excellent start M-L especially being assigned a job reference number. Wonderful work.

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

Woko
Woko's picture

Nice work, Araminta. The media might even be interested if the lake gets cleaned up & there's a plan for its long term protection. Our faith in democracy might even show a little more lustre.

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Things are on the way to improve? I just had a phonecall from a Councilor, he wants to meet me at the lake tomorrow. Hmm! M-L

M-L

Qyn
Qyn's picture

Thanks for the update M-L, it sounds promising.

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

Araminta
Araminta's picture

After there was no real progress, I had a meeting with the Cardinia Major who didn't think it was that bad.Then he told me it might be Melbourne Water that looks after the wetlands. So I started from zero again. But, I have to say,after I left a message on some phone, it all started to roll. 10 minutes later (no joke), someone rang.That person is in charge of cleaning and maintaining wetlands.He was a pleasure to talk to. He just rang me again telling me, he has a crew out there NOW, he told me they even removed an old couch from the island in the middle of the lake. They haven't seen the Swans or the 4 signets either. The guy was as upset as I am, he told me most people around the lake have cats and dogs and do not control them, so most of the baby birds never make it. He also told me, should it ever get that bad again, to ring him. How nice is that? Thanks Melbourne Water! M-L

M-L

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---'s picture

hurray! :p

thats an awesome story,i hope the lake fully recovers after that

Qyn
Qyn's picture

Congratulations M-L your actions have achieved this result plus you now have an ally to contact if needed. Well done we need more people like you.

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

Woko
Woko's picture

It's really nice to get a positive response from an organisation, Araminta. For a moment there I thought you were going to get the classic bureaucratic run around.
I'm wondering what can be done consistently to ensure a high quality wetland. With dogs & cats knocking off the wildlife, locals who don't seem to mind this at all & with young folk using the place to vent their feelings on there are still big issues affecting the wetland by the sound of it.
Is your Melbourne Water contact (who seems to be a committed person) able to focus on this wetland & work with any concerned locals on ensuring its rehabilitation? Or is he, like so many others in his position, spread so thinly that he achieves little. He seems to be a key figure in all this, at least until locals are willing to take up the job of protecting the wetland. I wonder how responsible they feel or can be made to feel for it.

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