Reef Guardians walk the talk – turning a walkway into a call for action to help the Reef

Students from Yeppoon State High School and St Ursula’s College were keen to be involved to turn street art into a call for action to help the Reef. 

Students used their artistic talent to stencil the messages ‘Keep our seas plastic free’ and ‘This flows to the Great Barrier Reef’ alongside images of Reef creatures on the footpath located nearby two new walkway bins installed by Council.

The Authority’s Assistant Director of Regional Engagement, Rebecca Allen, said the Capricorn Coast Landcare group had worked tirelessly rehabilitating and removing rubbish from the creek near Yeppoon Shopping Centre and the Authority and the Council were keen to help address the issue. 

“Marine debris, and particularly plastic litter, flowing to the Reef from our waterways like Fig Tree Creek is a major concern.  We looked at how we could creatively engage our community to think about the connection between our actions in the catchment and the Reef.” 

“Marine debris, not only has the obvious risks of entanglement and ingestion for our Reef species but it can smother habitat, increase coral disease and harbor invasive species,” Mrs Allen said.

Keen to take action for the future of the Reef, Yeppoon State High School student Ivan Sapien said: “the more we raise awareness of where the litter ends up, the more chance we have of keeping the Reef for longer.”

“A lot of people still need to learn how to take action.  I grew up with the ocean and the Reef and I want the next generation to be able to enjoy it,” Ivan said.

Livingstone Shire Councillor and Reef Guardian Champion Andrea Friend agreed.

“We all enjoy having the ocean as our backyard and the amazing Keppels on our doorstep,” she said. 

“We need to protect the Reef for future generations, educating our community about the choices we make.

“Whether we choose to refuse excess packaging, recycle, pick up litter or be mindful of where our rubbish ends up – we can all do our bit to help the Reef.

“What we do in our catchment – the land right next to the Great Barrier Reef – impacts on the Reef’s values.  Let’s tell people that what they’re doing when they drop their rubbish on the ground is really putting it on the Reef,” Councillor Friend said.