Great Brak Conservancy takes action, cleans up river banks

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Friday, 14 March was International Day for Action on Rivers and members of the Great Brak River Conservancy thought it fitting to use this day, not only for raising awareness, but to take action.

Great Brak River Conservancy chairman Scott Thomson said the conservancy members had planned a clean-up of the Great Brak River that Friday, but due to the windy weather, it was postponed to the following day, 15 March.

Thomson said 21 members of the Great Brak River community responded to the call to action that Saturday and 25 bags of litter - a whole bakkie load - were collected from the river banks and adjacent green area.

"The area where we concentrated clean-up efforts was along the river from opposite the Great Brak River Police Station to the N2 bridge," he said.

"While there was a bit of general litter found in the grassy area from where individuals fish and enjoy the environment, the majority of the waste collected was a direct result of people illegally overnighting in the bushes and within the green areas. While individual international days of action are important, every day is an opportunity to generate a positive impact," he said.

Thomson thanked everyone who helped with the clean-up that day as well as those "within the community who selflessly look after the environment while quietly concentrating on the positive instead of just complaining", he said.

Great Brak River residents joined conservancy members in the effort.