By Paul Dunlop
A GATE, shopping trolleys, tyres and dozens of golf balls were part of a haul of rubbish fished out of Pakenham’s lily pond.
Students from Pakenham Secondary College last week went on a littercollecting blitz as residents around the district took part in last week’s CleanUp Australia Day effort.
The clean up of the historical landmark in Duncan Drive was the first step of a new environmental initiative that will see the area rejuvenated.
College environment and sustainability coordinator Ally Jenner said students pulled more than 15 bags of rubbish from in and around the pond.
“It’s amazing some of the things that have been dumped in there,” she said.
“We found five shopping trolleys, a receipt box, even someone’s paper round.”
Around 80 students participated in the clean up. Josh Salmon, Diwata Alcock, Caitlyn Thorne, Rachael Connelly and Abbi Lopez were among the students involved.
They said the amount of rubbish in the lily pond was “unbelievable”.
Ms Jenner said the lily pond, one of Pakenham’s heritage sites, had been adopted by the secondary college in recent times.
“The lily pond has great potential to be transformed into a resource that all our community can use and benefit from. The cleanup day involved removing pollutants such as rubbish and glass as well as invasive, nonindigenous flora currently choking the ponds and banks.
“This will allow the water to slowly purify and encourage bird and aquatic life to flourish again.”
The lily pond reserve restoration project will be planned with the help of Cardinia Shire Council and Nestle.
The Nestle factory at Pakenham has given $25,000 to support the restoration as part of its community environment program. Similar funds were poured into Pakenham Consolidated School’s Toomuc Creek project last year.
Nestle Pakenham safety health and environment manager Trish Geiran said the project was a great way for students to make a difference in their local community.
Students from the college’s VET building and construction class, year 10 outdoor education class, year 11 biology class and the environment club will work collaboratively to realise the project.
Federal McMillan MP Russell Broadbent, Cardinia mayor Kate Lempriere, council environment manager Ian Stevenson and Nestle and secondary college officials were at Friday’s cleanup effort.
Bunnings Pakenham supports Australian charity ‘Share the Dignity’ in Christmas appeal.
From Friday, 15 November, to Sunday, 1 December 2024, pakenham residents are invited to fill bags with essential items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste,...
