Establishing a community coastcare group in most cases should be a relatively simple process.

To assist those interested in setting up a community coastcare group, this Start Up Kit' has been developed to outline, in a logical and sequential manner, the general steps involved and the formal requirements that need to be considered when starting a group.

It should be noted that there are no hard and fast rules and the steps involved may vary to some degree depending on the particular circumstance of each group.

You may also choose to do things in a slightly different order to what is outlined within this Start Up Kit'and in recognising these variables; the information provided should beconsidered as a general guide only.

DOWNLOAD NEW GROUP STARTER KIT HERE  

 

How you can help preserve the coastline

By making simple changes to our everyday life, all Australians can help protect our coastal areas and support the hard work of the Coastcare volunteers. Here are three simple actions you can do to help:

  • Pick up after your pet. What our pets leave behind on the nature strip can easily wash into storm water drains during rainfall events causing harmful bacteria and pollutants to end up on our beaches.
  • Reduce your carbon footprint. Our coasts are the first line of defense against climate change and therefore one of our highest risk eco systems.
  • Join your local Coastcare group as a volunteer or start a group. Coastcare groups are working all over the country to ensure our coastlines are in good health and able to adapt to changes brought about by sea level rise.”
  • Switch to biodegradable washing and cleaning products. Chemicals we put down the drain upset the natural balance of our oceans and waterways leading to problems such as habitat loss and algal blooms.
  • Wash your car on the lawn instead of the road. This way the detergent you use is absorbed into the lawn and not washed down storm water drains.
  • Reduce litter, either by disposing of your own litter properly or by picking up litter you see lying around. Litter can easily be washed into storm water drains or blown into oceans and waterways where it can harm marine animals.
  • Purchase locally produced sustainable seafood. Many types of seafood are being over fished or produced in unsustainable seafood farms in countries with poor regulations. Squid is one of the most sustainable seafoods you can consume.
  • Switch to reusable plastic bags. If no one used disposable plastic bags there would be no threat of them ending up in our oceans where they have the ability to harm marine animals such as turtles.
  • If you visit the beach, stick to the designated access points and walkways. Walking or driving vehicles on sand dunes erodes them and leaves them more exposed to the impacts of climate change.
  • Plant natives in your garden. Seeds of exotic garden species can be transported hundreds of kilometers by birds or waterways. In moisture rich coastal areas these species can easily invade native bush, become noxious weeds and impact biodiversity.