During the Noosa Festival of Surfing last month, Noosa Biosphere collaborated with other concerned citizens to encourage people to remove plastics and other litter from our fabulous beaches. More >>

Show your support on Sunday, March 4 and help the Noosa community by being apart of the national event Clean Up Australia Day. More >>

March 6 is Clean Up Australia Day and an opportunity for the Community to do their bit by helping out in the Noosa Biosphere. More >>

At the final Board meeting for 2010 the Noosa Biosphere Governance Board endorsed moves by community groups in their aim to remove plastic bags from the biosphere.

Mr Michael Donovan, Chair of the Noosa Biosphere Ltd said that the Noosa Biosphere wishes to support both Sunshine Coast Council and Sunshine Coast Litter Collective collaborative pilot programs towards waste reduction and a key step is the reduction in unnecessary packaging.

“Planned reduction towards elimination of plastic bags is seen as an excellent example of a community driven initiative supported by key business groups, environmental organisations and individuals,” said Mr Donovan.

The Biosphere Board heard that the Original Eumundi Markets are already plastic bag free and moves are underway to attempt to reduce or eliminate plastic bags from the broader township of Eumundi in a pilot program facilitated by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

The pilot program falls under the Sunshine Coast Regional Council’s Environment program and initially includes 4 communities across the coast including the Peregian Beach community, which falls into the footprint of the UNESCO designated Noosa Biosphere region.

“Initiatives such as these are important for the biosphere to support for example, The Original Eumundi Markets are producing substitutes to plastic bags such as biosphere friendly re-usable bags that are being designed and manufactured in partnership with local artisans and The House with No Steps,” said Mr Donovan.

Mr Peter Homan, General Manager of the Original Eumundi Markets said that the markets have been working in partnership with stall holders for several years now to eliminate plastic bags and that with just a little will and effort it can be done.

“We are now taking the project the next step and having re-usable bags developed for those businesses who just can’t do without a carry bag substitute, and this concept can then be utilised by businesses from across the region”, continued Mr Homan.

In joining the call for a plastic bag free biosphere, Mr Donovan recognises that this is an ongoing initiative already underway with the support of many groups including community groups and local traders.

“The Noosa Biosphere itself need not drive every initiative.  There has to be self-generated and spontaneous take-up of many ideas across the biosphere to preserve and maintain what we have in a sustainable way,” said Mr Donovan.

“We can all make an immediate and permanent choice to say no to plastic bags. To effect reduction then elimination it will take time, perseverance and reminders but it is very well worth doing.” More >>

The Sunshine Coast Litter Collective is a unique and innovative collaboration of community, industry and government organisations working on reducing the impacts of litter in local waterways. More than 150 volunteers work routinely throughout the year, including volunteer crews of six boats patrolling river and canal systems from Noosa to the Pumicestone Passage.

Our very own Noosa Integrated Catchment Authority (NICA) was part of the Sunshine Coast Litter Collective that received two awards on 20 of May at the Annual Healthy Waterways Awards evening. The two awards were '7 News Clean Up Award' and the 'Minister’s Grand Prize'  More >>

Do you pick up other people's rubbish, particularly when it is unlikely that it will be picked up by anybody else? I often do and my kids now also do it as well. More >>

What are you doing this Sunday?  Care to volunteer a couple of hours alongside your fellow Biospherians? More >>

During two dives on Saturday the 30th of January, volunteers collected LOADS of rubbish on Jew Shoal, a popular reef frequented by both fisherman and divers. More >>