Caring for
Coastal WaterWays

Volunteers are provided with training in boat safety and handling, workplace health and safety issues, community liaison and public relations, safe litter collection procedures, and other training as required.  The volunteers wear uniforms and complete the necessary documentation to cover them when working from the vessel.

The regular presence of volunteers on the waterways will also serve as an excellent public relations exercise.  It provides a venue for community comment, education, and reporting of waterway issues.  Further public relations are conducted through displays and presentations at community events, i.e. World Environment Day, Splash, boating and fishing Expos and Clean Up Australia Day etc.. to promote the work of the group, recruit more volunteers when required, and educate the community on waterways protection.

Maroochy Waterwatch River Patrol group's goal is to maintain a consistent presence on the coastal waterways.  With increased community involvement, there will hopefully be a gradual but steady decrease in the quantity of litter and waste on the waterways.

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The “Maroochy Waterwatch River Patrol” is a community based volunteer organisation, striving to protect the riverine waterways and environment. The main objective of the program is to complement the very successful Maroochy River Catchment Centre in monitoring the Maroochy River waterways, their use and related ecological issues.

The Maroochy Waterwatch River Patrol group is involved in
four main activities:

Waterways Patrol

S Provide a regular physical presence on the Maroochy River and canals.

S Monitor and report to the appropriate authorities the presence of illegal campers, campfires, and domestic pets on council land and Nature Conservation Parks.
 

Pollution Monitoring

S Using a vessel, work along foreshores, river and canal banks to collect and record litter types and their sources.

S Assist in investigations of estuarine water pollution: sea grass and fish kill reports if required.
 

Community Liaison

S Actively participate in community activities and other community organised events.

S Assist other community groups with waterway rehabilitation projects, where a vessel is needed.

S  Using a vessel, assist other organisations with water quality monitoring or other institutional, government and industrial based research.

S  Provide a hands-on facility for work experience, community service and training.

S  To provide a basic sea bird rescue service when necessary.
 

Regularly report to Maroochy Catchment Centre - 
(incorporating Maroochy Waterwatch Inc.,  Pretrie Creek Catchment Care Group,  Paynters Creek Catchment Care Group,  Eudlo Creek Catchment Care Group.  Florabunda Nursery) the results of the group's activities, amount of litter collected, contacts with the public, and the general well-being of the Maroochy River and environs.