Media Release
5 September 2005
It’s spring cleanup time in Otara
In the spirit of the spring season, the Otara community is having a community cleanup on Saturday, 10 September from 9am
until noon, followed by a celebratory BBQ.
The spring cleanup initiative, lead by Manukau City Council and the Otara Community Board, and with the help of
community groups and organisations, including Housing New Zealand, will help build community pride and reduce the levels
of litter in and around streams and the Otara Lake.
The Lake and Otara Creek are among Auckland’s most polluted waterways. The Council’s Wai Care community waterway action
programme reminds people that dropping letter in the street means dropping it in the stream - because all streets drain
into our streams. Each bit of litter adds up to a huge amount that is choking the life out of our waterways. Shopping
trolleys clog up the stream bed and rubbish pollutes the water. These are eventually flushed down to and collect in and
fill up Otara Lake.
The Otara Community Board wants to improve local streams and the Otara Lake so that they can be safely used for
recreation. It plans to engage the wider Otara community to help do this by being involved in educational activities and
through cleanups.
“It is exciting to see so many people, schools and organizations give up their free time to support the Community
Board’s Otara Spring Clean initiative. This is one way people in our community, both young and old, can show
appreciation and respect for other people’s property, our community and our environment,” says Councillor Su'a William
Sio.
Specific areas have been identified across the ward for this weekend’s cleanup. A Parks Field Officer will direct
volunteers in each of the areas as well as co-ordinate health and safety, litter, litter bag removal and other cleanup
activities.
ENDS