A troupe of around 60 volunteers recently took to sites around the area as part of a special Flood Recovery Clean Up Day co-ordinated by Hawkesbury City Council in conjunction with a number of community groups.
The volunteers gathered at four sites - Argyle Bailey Memorial Park at Ebenezer; Cattai Creek at Glenorie; Colbee Park at McGraths Hill; and Deerubbin Park at Cornwallis.
The aim of course, was to remove debris left behind from the horror flooding which occurred in march.
Macquarie MP Susan Templeman joined the clean-up, along with Hawkesbury Councillors, Mayor Patrick Conolly, Deputy Mayor Mary Lyons-Buckett and Danielle Wheeler, Clean-Up Australia chair Pip Kiernan and council staff.
Council and Clean-Up Australia partnered for three of the sites, while at Cattai Creek, OzFish also took a leading role, co-ordinating a fleet of kayakers and motorised crafts.
Also helping out at Cattai were members from Galston-Glenorie Fishing Club, Hawkesbury-Nepean Landcare, Glenorie Progress Association and the Cattai Hills Environment Network.
The volunteers collected several tonnes of waste, including recyclables and large items such as polystyrene foam boxes, mesh, hoses, pallets, containers, doors and tyres.
A hazardous chemical in a large sealed drum was found on the riverbank at one of the sites and was reported to the Environmental Protection Authority for removal.
"Thank you to everyone who came along and helped to clean up at this flood recovery event," said Cr Conolly. "Our appreciation also goes to Clean Up Australia and OzFish for their active support and involvement. It was another great chance to get together for a good cause."
